Cemeteries may close earlier after family concerns

North Northamptonshire Council wants to bring opening times in Wellingborough in line with other cemeteries

A council has proposed closing cemeteries earlier in the day in the hope of discouraging anti-social behaviour, drug taking and noise.

Cemeteries in Wellingborough are open between 08:00 and 20:00 April-September and 08:00 to 17:00 in the autumn and winter months.

But North Northamptonshire Council has proposed closing the gates 30 minutes earlier throughout the year.

Samantha Diamond, head of trading standards and bereavement services at the council, said: "We've had a mix of anti-social behaviour, drug taking, people just making a lot of noise and families being concerned about their memorials."

The new times would bring Wellingborough cemeteries in line with other sites in north Northamptonshire, such as in Kettering and Corby.

A council consultation about the changes received 144 responses, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The new rules would also mean the size of gravestones and memorials, and what temporary tributes were allowed, would be standardised across north Northamptonshire.

The place and environment scrutiny committee noted the proposed changes at a meeting on Tuesday and the council's executive is due to make a final decision in November.