Council set to sell off two-storey cemetery lodge near Rugeley as accommodation

The two-storey Stile Cop Cemetery Lodge previously provided accommodation for the cemetery keeper, with an office and mess room for cemetery staff also attached.

But it is now considered surplus to requirements. And the building is once again set to become a home for the living at the Rugeley resting place.

On Thursday (November 28), members of Cannock Chase Council confirmed the proposed disposal of the lodge. Funding of around £130,000, plus VAT, has also been requested for works on the site.

A report to the cabinet said: “Cabinet have previously approved a report to dispose of Stile Cop Cemetery Lodge. A business decision was made to move away from having a live-in sexton and to outsource the opening and closing of the cemetery; the report also detailed recommendations to provide on-site cemetery operatives with a purpose-built modular building elsewhere within the cemetery site.

“External agents have expressed the view that Stile Cop Cemetery Lodge would be attractive to potential residential purchasers. The proposed sale of this property will not only avoid ongoing maintenance and security costs but should also generate a capital receipt, the level of which will be determined by market demand.”

As well as backing plans to sell off the lodge, cabinet members were asked on Thursday to approve works on the site including separation of the water supply and provision of new welfare facilities for cemetery operatives. The report said: “The water supply issue was not known at the time cabinet agreed to the disposal.

“The head of operations has confirmed that the requirement for cemetery operatives to have a building onsite to accommodate welfare and office facilities. Previous costs of constructing a purpose-built building were anticipated at £60,000.

“Members of the public currently have the opportunity to view burial records onsite on an ad hoc occurrence and this is not something that happens on a daily basis. However, moving forward arrangements can be made for records to be viewed at the Civic Centre (in) Cannock.”

The lodge has previously been marketed and a number of offers were received by the council last year, the report added. The move to bring it back into use was welcomed by cabinet members, who said it had become an eyesore in recent years.

Councillor Jacquie Prestwood said: “I have a vested interest – both my parents are buried there. It looks abandoned and it spoils the whole area.

“If anyone wants to take it on and live in it, it would be a big benefit to the area. It’s a lovely spot for anyone who wants to be able to live there, and there were a number of applications from people who wanted to take on the lodge as a community facility or a flower shop.”

Councillor David Williams said: “There has been some interest but I personally haven’t seen any worked business proposals about how they would run that facility and I think it’s more wishful thinking. I would love them to use the building but we have to get the maximum return for the taxpayer.”