A grave shortage of land

Loughton_Monkey

Well it's now certain that building land costs will go through the roof now that it has to compete with land that we may wish to 'lease' for an even longer period.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14647010

Cemeteries across the UK are becoming overcrowded. Lucy Townsend explores whether there might be any space left for her.

Resting beside our loved ones when the time comes is a reassuring notion for the living. Families pay thousands of pounds for land where generations can rest in peace together for eternity.
But in the UK at least, the ground is filling up.

Should I wish to, I could not be buried near to my relatives at Yardley Cemetery in south Birmingham. Space there ran out in 1962.

But it's not all bad news. It seems we can benefit from extracting all the gold, silver, and diamonds soon after death to help face any rise in burial costs.

One option is Promession, expected to arrive in the UK in the next 18 months, where my body would be frozen to -18C, then submerged in liquid nitrogen at -196C and vibrated until I shatter. Any metals I might have accumulated - such as a new hip or fillings in my 100-year-old teeth - would be extracted and recycled and my organic remains would go back into the life cycle of the soil.

I am launching a new business. "Rightplot.com". This will sell burial plots in advance, with mortgages available (secured on gold teeth), on an 'attractive' commission rate of 5%. With only a 10% deposit, you can secure your plot now, with minimal annual administration fees and we promise you will not get gazzumped [unless, of course, we receive a higher offer before you have handed over the money].

It is fully expected that I can out-bid Perssimon on any land so beware, your new house will cost you a fortune.

My own epitaph? "He lived. He died. He didn't do much, but at least he could afford this plot."

MacMickster

So its not just flat sharing that our kids have to look forward to.

PasturesNew

It's been a growing problem for a couple of decades now..... it doesn't really matter does it.... you need that bit of land potentially once you're dead - so it won't matter to you if your descendants are having a problem finding you a slot. They'll probably just cremate you and sprinkle you over your veg patch instead....

Joe_Bloggs

How about something similar to the Sedlec Ossuary to save space and recycle.
J_B.

Loughton_Monkey

Joe_Bloggs wrote: »

How about something similar to the Sedlec Ossuary to save space and recycle.
J_B.

A strong possibility. But a long way to go.

Aberdeen would also be a long way to go, but none of us would be able to afford that. Graveyard plots in Aberdeen have risen 37% this year alone. [Seasonally adjusted obviously].

MacMickster

Maybe all of the people who have bought worthless tiny plots of land in land banking scams will actually have the last laugh, selling them at a premium as burial plots in years to come.

kabayiri

Wasn't it Bowie who sang

"Ashes to Ashes. It's a racket.
Major Tom's plot sold for quite a packet"

ultrawomble

Soylent Green - it's the future, I've tasted it

Percy1983

Luckily my parents have already told me where to scatter there ashes so that won't be an issue. Personally I don't see the point a burial it just wastes land.

Really2

Percy1983 wrote: »

Personally I don't see the point a burial it just wastes land.

TBH if you look at it like that there is not much real point to life other than breading in reality, but the human condition is a funny thing.

Burial as been going on longer than living in houses, is it houses that waste burying space?

In Worcester I think they were going to heat the council swiming baths with the crematorium.

Percy1983

Well in life I have fun which yes is ultimately pointless, but in death do I really need anything (including the body I used).

As I say I really can't see the point.