FORMER allotments and grazing land in Cow Lane, Laverstock, have been chosen as the site for a new cemetery for Salisbury, following intense pressure from Laverstock residents and a local football club.

Their objections to the new city cemetery being put on church land adjoining St Andrew's Church has persuaded Salisbury district council's city area committee to opt for the Cow Lane site and to make an early planning application, so that its plans can get under way.

The decision will be greeted with relief by more than 90 per cent of Laverstock residents, who want the church land to be retained for use by the Laverstock and Ford football club.

One of Laverstock's councillors on the district council, Ian McLennan, described the decision to go for Cow Lane as "common sense".

He said the Cow Lane site had the capacity to be used as a cemetery for 80 years, and it would mean the land would remain much as it was for many years to come, because the new cemetery would be in two phases.

He said the city area committee had supported his view that, providing planning permission is granted for the Cow Lane site, the first phase of the cemetery should open at the far end of the site - farthest away from the road.

Derelict buildings on the land would be cleared and the whole area tidied up.

Mr McLennan said: "The need for a new burial site is urgent and the compromise the committee agreed to means that, instead of starting at the entrance to the site from the road, the cemetery will begin at the top end.

"But planning permission will be sought for the whole site, thus securing its use as a cemetery for the next 80 years.

"It will take 40 years to use the first phase, so it will be at least that length of time before any consideration is given to using land near the road for burials."

Mr McLennan said it would also mean the rural approach to Laverstock from Salisbury would be retained for the foreseeable future.

The football club wanted to continue to use the land they lease from St Andrew's Church, particularly as they have been given a Football Association Charter Mark as one of the county's first-ever community clubs.

This means they are under pressure from local youngsters wanting to join, and to lose one of their major pitches would cause serious problems.

The club runs 14 teams, four for adults and ten for children.

Members of the city area committee were advised by officers that, due to the "very high risk" of a planning application for the St Andrew's site being refused, the Cow Lane site should be "pursued without delay".

Over the past year or so, Salisbury has faced serious difficulty with an acute shortage of burial places.

The Devizes Road cemetery is full and the London Road one is close to capacity.

After the decision, a council spokeswoman said the St Andrew's site would be kept on the file until the planning decision on the Cow Lane site was known.

It is expected that the new cemetery would allow other-faith burials.

It is intended work will start to prepare the site as soon as planning permission is obtained.

Committee members voted to seek planning permission for the Cow Lane site from the council's southern area committee.