The chapel at Maidstone Cemetery could finally be reopened after more than 12 years out of action.

Maidstone Borough Council's Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee has proposed spending £222,000 on bringing the Grade II-listed chapel back into use for funeral services next year.

The Sutton Road building has fallen into a state of disrepair in recent times, with the council admitting its Bereavement Services department has lost "a lot of income" due to its closure in 2006.

Families have also vented frustration at the way it has been left to rot, with three-quarters of respondents claiming in a recent survey they would have used the chapel for a funeral service if it has been available.

Works needed to bring it back to proper use include electrical works, replacing the cast iron girdle around the steeple, removing floor tiles, installation of a music system and general decoration and cleaning and replacing of furniture.

Cllr John Perry (Cons) said: "It's an absolute no-brainer, there's a huge reputational issue here.

"The chapel is a Grade II-listed building and there's a raft of things we should be doing."

Cllr Marion Ring (Cons) added: "I remember the chapel being used for family members so I would definitely be backing this.

"Someone has got to make a start on it because if we don't, it's going to go on and on, and if this is only going to take a year, that's pretty good going."

Rosemary Kehily, 75, of Stratford Drive, has raised a number of concerns with how the cemetery has been maintained in recent months.

She said: "I've been going to that cemetery for 70 years and one of my uncles used to be a grave digger so I know how it used be kept and it upset me the state it came to be in.

"The chapel is beautiful and they have not used it for such a long time, so I'm delighted they're looking to do so again."

The refurbishment of the chapel is the second phase of a two-part project to improve the cemetery, over fears the council is running out of grave space, and missing out on much-needed cash.

The first phase includes demolishing the Gate Keeper's House, which is now uninhabitable due to asbestos, constructing a new staff welfare facility, installing CCTV and expanding the car park and the section of the site used for cremated remains, with the council fearing there is now only six years' worth of space left.

This will be funded by the £213,000 already set aside in the council's capital budget for development of Bereavement Services.

Bosses will now request further funding from the Policy and Resources Committee to allow the chapel to be refurbished after councillors unanimously approved the proposals last week.