Lights that will be installed at the main cemetery in Reading will be switched off during closure times to limit disturbance for bats and other animals.
The new lights that will be installed for the crematorium building at the Henley Road Cemetery are among other improvements that are set to be made soon.
These involve works for a new staff area, funeral director’s collection facilities, installation of a plant room and works to improve courtyard accessibility, including retaining walls, level adjustments, new ramps and staircases.
Because the project is being undertaken by the Reading Borough Council itself as the managers of the ceremony, the improvements had to be approved by councillors at a meeting.
Nathalie Weekes, a senior council planning officer, presented the application to representatives, stating that the project will see ‘type D’ exterior lights installed on the building with a warm tone.
Furthermore, the lights will only be used during the opening hours of the cemetery, which are 9am to 5pm from October 1 to March 31, and 9am to 8pm from April 1 to September 30.
Ms Weekes explained: “This is because there is a lot of biodiversity around, and it’s to try and limit any impact on the bats that are in the locality.”
Councillor Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey) asked what the light levels will be, as she stated that she lives near Oxford Road, stating that she is ‘accosted by Times Square level lighting.
Mrs Weekes answered that the light wattage needs to be a certain lux level for lighting for accessibility and to aid those with visual impairment.
She said: In terms of impact, there is limited impact on neighbouring properties, due to the fact that it is centrally located, and in this particular instance, the hours of use condition are only in use during the time it is open.
Cllr Jo Lovelock (Labour, Norcot) said: “I welcome it, I think it will bring some needed improvements, both that the public will see, but also the staff, so let’s hope they can get on with it quickly.”
The improvements and conditions controlling the use of the lights were unanimously approved at the council’s planning applications committee meeting on January 7.
You can view the application by typing reference PL/25/1679 into the council’s planning portal.
The project is being undertaken as part of phased improvements to the cemetery site.
The council is also set to turn over the use of the Henley Road allotments as burial space, which would provide about 2,300 new graves, amid fears that Reading would run out of burial space by 2030.
