Work has begun to revitalise the chapel and improve facilities at Dudley Cemetery in North Tyneside.
The programme of improvements is expected to last around 16 weeks and will be carried out sensitively. Work will pause to ensure that funerals and services are not disturbed.
To safeguard the future of the chapel, the project will include work to strengthen its foundations and carry out essential repairs to the roof and brickwork. It will also improve drainage, electrical systems and water supply, and refurbish the interior with new flooring and decoration.
A toilet block will be demolished and replaced with a modern, unisex, accessible facility, addressing the need for improved facilities on site.
A temporary site cabin and skip have been placed next to the cemetery entrance and chapel to support the work.
Located on Dudley Lane, the cemetery opened in 1934 and is home to a small number of Commonwealth war graves, reflecting its role as a place of local remembrance.
Residents who took part in the council’s Big Community Conversation said they wanted cleaner, well maintained neighbourhoods and improved facilities in parks and open spaces.
Councillor Hannah Johnson, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “This is an important project for Dudley Cemetery, helping to ensure it remains a dignified and welcoming place of remembrance for families and visitors for years to come. We’ve also agreed that if any burials are scheduled while work is ongoing, the team will pause so that services can proceed without disruption.”