CAMELFORD Town Council considered the option of applying to the Public Works Board for funds to establish a community cemetery at Lanteglos at their meeting on October 20.

Clerk to the council, Mr Brian Groves, circulated the requirements to councillors and explained that a loan of £140,000 would "more than cover" the purchase, searches and works.

He said that if the land was bought and planning permission was not granted, the council could use it for other purposes. Searches would need to be carried out and if the land was not deep enough for use as a cemetery, it could possibly be used for allotments.

Cllr Bob Ireland said there were things that the council needed to do before they applied for a loan, such as submitting a planning application, but Cllr Andy Shaw said it was an asset that the town could do with.

Mr Groves noted that it could take 18 months to get planning permission.

Cllr Philip Lassels said he was conscious that if the council take on a loan for 25 years, that would be equivalent to two and a half generations having that amount of money to pay back.

"I think we should go for the longest possible period to spread the expense of this."

Cllr Bonnie Grills proposed that the council take the matter into committee — excluding the public an d press — to discuss the matter amongst themselves. This was agreed.