Harrow Muslim Council's bid to run Muslim section of Harrow Weald Cemetery

HARROW Muslim Council is prepared to run the "underused" Muslim section of Harrow Weald cemetery in order to provide a seven-day-a-week burial service there.
The idea was put forward after Harrow Council attracted criticism for not providing families with the ability to inter their relatives at weekends at a different cemetery - the Brent Council-managed Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery in Oxhey Lane, Watford, where Harrow has had its own graveyard area since May 2008.
Nizam Ismail (Labour), chairman of Harrow Muslim Council and a ward councillor for Queensbury, has been lobbying for Saturday and Sunday burials at Carpenders Park and recently attended a meeting between faith representatives and Harrow Council bosses to resolve the matter.
Afterwards, a Labour statement said: "The meeting was very positive and constructive. It was agreed to look into this matter very seriously and an undertaking was given that burial facilities would be provided on Saturdays at Carpenders Park as from April 1 2010."
Mr Ismail added: "At last someone has listened to us. Having burials on Saturdays is an important step forward and we will wish to see this extended to Sundays as well."
Aside from talks about Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery, he said there was "a very productive discussion" about the future management of the Muslim section of Harrow Weald Cemetery in Clamp Hill, Stanmore, which is, according to Labour, is "currently underused due to the restricted services offered by the council".
The Harrow Muslim Council suggested to Michael Lockwood, chief executive of Harrow Council, that the borough's Islamic community manage the section itself with public funding to ensure burials could take place every day.
It is understood that the replacement Harrow Central Mosque in Station Road, Harrow, will employ an undertaker to run its morgue in order to make this practicable.
Mr Ismail said: "The council has promised to look at this innovative proposal very seriously and to respond in the very near future."
XXX COUNCIL COMMENT XXX