A GROUP which leafleted households to gauge opinions on a new cemetery site in a market town has received low feedback from residents.

The Baldock Society set up The Baldock Cemetery Group earlier this year at the request of MP Oliver Heald to review the burial provisions within the Baldock District.

The group which is made up of local councillors, representatives from churches in Baldock and the Baldock Society leafleted the town with 6,000 surveys to find out what the people of Baldock thought about having their own cemetery once the current cemetery located off The Sycamores on Norton Road reaches its capacity.

However, only 133 completed forms were received by the group.

It is estimated that the town cemetery will be full in eight to 10 years time, meaning North Herts District Council (NHDC) will make provisions for the people of Baldock, to be buried in Wilbury Hills Cemetery on the edge of Letchworth GC.

The group identified land available in Baldock but set up costs involved would be in excess of �100,000 which would not be funded by NHDC.

Chairman of the Baldock Cemetery Group Chris Gomm said: The Baldock Society was disappointed with the response received from the town on what we thought would be an important issue for them.

“The reply rate was 1.33 per cent of the population of the town, not enough for us to take the matter forward.

‘‘But at least the town’s people had the opportunity to have a say because we care about what they think.”

Mr Gomm added: “There were many very positive comments from people who do want a local cemetery and it is a shame for them if the nearest facility is in Letchworth. We do sympathise.

“We expect this issue will raise its head again in the future when cemetery space does run out in Baldock.”