Borough Council commissions archaeological dig at proposed burial ground - The Redditch Standard

Borough Council commissions archaeological dig at proposed burial ground

Redditch Editorial 13th Oct, 2020 Updated: 13th Oct, 2020   0

A DIG to check for Roman and Medieval relics at a proposed burial ground in Redditch will start tomorrow (Wednesday, October 14).

Archaeologists will work on the 11.5 acre grassland off Ipsley Church Lane until next Monday, depending on the weather and what they find.

The land is currently the subject of a controversial planning application by Redditch Borough Council to change its use from mostly open space to a burial ground.

Hundreds of residents have objected against the application which will be considered by Redditch planners in the coming months.




Locals have said that the ecological, historical and public wellbeing impacts on the area would be massive.

They are also fearful over increased traffic and the danger to wildlife.


As part of that process, the council has commissioned Archaeology Warwickshire to carry out a detailed fieldwork assessment of the site.

The full programme of works will include digging on-site ‘trial trenches’ and then recording, assessing and publishing the results before adding any finds to local archives.

Coun Brandon Clayton, the council’s portfolio holder for environmental services, said: “With Redditch’s Roman history, this archaeological dig could add to what we know about our past and tell a bit more of the story of Redditch.

“It’s another important part of the work to check the site is the right site for what we want and need.

“Just like when we had drilling rigs in to analyse the soil in 2016, it’s all part of the long process we’re going through to assess whether the site could be a suitable site for Redditch’s next burial ground.”

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