More Muslim burial plots are to be created in Wokingham as councillors and local MPs have warned existing capacity is ‘almost used up’.

There are two burial spaces available for those of Muslim faith in the borough – Mays Lane cemetery in Earley, and the Shinfield cemetery.

Religious belief dictates that Muslim burials must be grave burials, and that they must commence immediately after death. It is also customary for burial spaces to be separate from other faiths.

The leader of Wokingham Borough Council has said the authority recognises the ‘critical issue’ of providing more spaces within the borough but that he ‘can’t say how quickly we will be able to do this’.

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Councillor Stephen Conway said potential options were increasing provision at the council-run Shinfield cemetery or creating a new site.

He warned that alternatives would be in the neighbouring Reading borough, which would ‘cost Wokingham residents more money’.

The issue has been raised by Wokingham Borough Councillors Basit Alvi and Majid Nagra, as well as MP for Earley and Woodley Yuan Yang.

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Basit Alvi said at a full council meeting on Thursday, November 21 he had been approached by ‘multiple residents and community representatives’ across the borough on the problem.

Labour member for Loddon Majid Nagra organised an urgent meeting between Yuan Yang MP and local faith leaders this weekend.

During the meeting on Saturday, November 23, Shakil Khan and Faisal Mushtaq from Aisha Mosque said they were concerned about having to travel out of the borough to Reading or Bracknell, where they would have to pay higher charges than in Wokingham.

Muslim residents account for almost one in ten residents of Ms Yang’s constituency, according to the 2021 census.

Ms Yang has said it is a ‘deeply pressing and troubling issue’ for the community, and that both ‘short and long term’ solutions were needed.

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Following the meeting Ms Yang has written to both leaders of Earley Town Council, which runs Mays Lane cemetery and Wokingham Borough Council.

She wrote: “Dignity in death is a fundamental human need for us all, regardless of religion or place of residence. Muslim families across Earley deserve to have peace of mind that a burial space will be available for their residents

“I am mindful of the worry this problem adds for those residents who are already dealing with the stress of family illness or bereavement.”