Boarding changes after cemetery rules review

PROTECTIVE boarding will be placed to allow machinery to manoeuvre over graves under proposed changes to cemetery rules in Gloucester.

City council leaders agreed to review its rules and regulations around Coney Hill Cemetery and Crematorium in November.

This came after parents including Sharna Andrews had been told the colourful fence which surrounds her late son’s grave had to be removed as it does not comply with the rules.

There was also anger over mini diggers and other heavy machinery driving over people’s graves as a matter of course.

Civic chiefs agreed to review its rules and consult best practice after a motion was brought forward calling for a re-think by Community Independent group councillors Alastair Chambers and Brendon O’Donnell.

Deputy leader and performance and resources cabinet member Hannah Norman told the cabinet meeting that the council has looked at industry best practice and the rules at cemeteries close to Gloucester

The major change being recommended is expanding the options of materials which are allowed to define the border where a headstone would normally sit.

Once final settlements of graves have taken place they will need to be seeded CLLR HANNAH NORMAN

She said: “The proposed new rules add concrete as a border option as this is more costeffective than granite which is recommended.

“The new rules also reinforce that once final settlements of graves have taken place they will need to be seeded so that the cemetery complies with being a lawn cemetery.”

The proposed updated regulations say grave spaces will be grass seeded once the grave space has settled at ground level about 12 months after interment.

The rules will allow plants, flowers and bulbs to be planted in a border 3ft wide and 2ft deep in front of the headstone.

But any planting or ornaments exceeding 3ftx2ft will be removed. And all floral tributes including plastic will have to be removed two weeks after the burial.

The new rules state staff will need to access graves in all areas of the cemetery and on occasions will need to manoeuvre machinery over the graves. Protected boarding will be used where possible, they say.

Cabinet agreed to put the new rules out to consultation.