Test drilling starts on land off Ipsley Church Lane in Redditch

TEST drilling has started into the possibility of siting a new town cemetery off Ipsley Church Lane in Redditch.
The mobile drilling rig was put in place yesterday (Thursday) to carry out essential soil sampling works.
The testing will be conducted via a mobile drilling rig by Geo-Environmental, and will last two days.
As part of the project the borough council and contractors will be involving students and interested community groups in assessing the soil samples and what they reveal. Pupils from Academy Arrow Vale will be on site and will help with assessments as part of their studies.
Ward member Councillor Juliet Brunner said: “It is not often we drill eight metres into the ground and we are taking the opportunity to share this experience with our communities.”
Coun Debbie Taylor, whose portfolio covers environmental services added: “There are no concrete plans to build a cemetery at this site but this an issue nationally, as land for burials is in short-supply,” said
“By carrying out these works we will know if this area is suitable or not for future development of this nature.”