GAZETTE & HERALD: Villagers at Colerne, who wish one day to be laid to rest with their ancestors in the village burial ground, have issued an appeal for a vital extension to the graveyard.

North Wiltshire District Council planning officers have recommended refusing planning permission for the extension to the burial ground on to land between the Manor House and the church of St John the Baptist, and the building of a new boundary wall.

Planners are concerned about the destruction of a section of wall and fear the extension to the burial ground would spoil the setting of the listed Manor House.

Rosemary Durrant, 72, from Colerne, has lived in the village all her life and sees no reason why she should have to leave it after her death.

"I have three generations of my family buried there and I want the same," she said.

"If we can't extend the burial ground here I don't know where else it could go except outside the village.

"I shall be very annoyed if this plan does not go ahead. I can't honestly understand why they are objecting they're being awkward."

The application has been put forward by Colerne Parish Council because the burial ground is almost full.

The proposed extension relates to an area of open countryside to the east of St John the Baptist church and the Manor House, which is Grade II listed.

The two buildings are separated by a natural stone boundary wall and a 20-metre length would be demolished, and new walls built around the burial ground.

The owners of the Manor House have offered to gift the land to the parish council but, as this will interfere with their views, they wish to demolish the garden wall and replace it on the new boundary.

Planners say there is no objection to using the land for burial, but said: "This alteration will involve the unnecessary loss of a large section of wall, which is at least a hundred years old and forms part of the continuous and historic boundary.

The district council's development control committee was due to consider the matter at a meeting last night.