A start date for work on Canvey's new cemetery is set to be revealed next week.

Castle Point Council will meet with Benfleet funeral directors, Willow, to thrash out the details.

It had been hoped the new cemetery in Northwick Road would be open by August or September but council solicitor, Alison Henwood, said it was taking time to organise.

She said: "We are looking at a partnership arrangement and we are still negotiating.

"We will be meeting the company on Thursday and setting a start date for work will be one of the things on the agenda."

The partnership approach means the council will keep ownership of the land but the project will be financed and developed by Willow to the tune of £148,000.

Canvey businessman Terry Holding - principal director of HBC - donated £20,000 to the council so it could buy the ten-acre site west of Safeway.

Councillor Brian Weller (Lab, Canvey Winter Gardens) has been among those pushing for a cemetery on Canvey.

He said: "We were hoping to get it started by now but a meeting has been called with Willow so hopefully we should soon know more."

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