THE fate of Caldicot cemetery is set to be discussed at today's cabinet meeting, despite requests from councillors to have it taken off the agenda. Town and county councillor Jimmy Harris says he and fellow town councillors, have not been consulted on the matter before it goes to Cabinet. He claims the one councillor who was consulted, Cllr Bill Edwards, never voted on the matter as town councillor after declaring an interest because his father is buried there. Now Cllr Harris is calling for the cemetery to be removed from the items to be discussed.

Over recent months there has been a move by some town councillors to try and get MCC to take over the maintainance of the cemetery. But it seems this will not come to fruition. Cllr Harris said: "Monmouthshire county council are refusing to take over the control of Caldicot cemetery because of budgetary implications. For the past 44 years Caldicot town council has been paying double taxation on the cemetery. We are the only town in Monmouthshire who has to maintain their own cemetery."

Cllr Dave Ashwin says he is not happy with the way the situation has been handled and will be asking for a copy of the report listing the recommendations and asking for a reason for their decision.

Town mayor Paul Tidmarsh, has also spoken out about his concerns, saying it it is in the interest on MCC to take over the running of the cemetery. He said: "The cemeteries in Portskewett and Magor are nearly full and they (MCC) will have to look for more land. I think it is in their interest to take Caldicot cemetery back."

Mr Tidmarsh says the town council has been looking after the cemetery since 1974, and in affect subsidising burials in Caldicot and the rest of Monmouthshire. He also spoke of his concerns regarding health and safety issues within the cemetery. "I am concerned about the health and safety issues after the problems we head with the head stones," continued Mr Tidmarsh. "I don't want that to happen again. We are not as qualified as the council to deal with health and safety, it needs professionalism. We want MCC to take over because they are the professionals!"

The councillor for Dewstow ward where the cemetery is situated is Bill Edwards. He told the Free Press he had declared an interest in a past council meeting when they were voting on whether they should repair the head stones, as his father is buried in the cemetery he did not think it appropriate to vote on the matter.

Recognising the town council's interest in handing the cemetery back to MCC, Cllr Edwards said: "The town has always provided a personal service - they have always been in favour of the transfer back to county council. MCC are putting burial charges up by 20 percent. If it does go back to the county council the service will be dearer and worse than the town coun