Family ask council to stop 'driving over graves' in Gloucester

The grave of Diane Hemming has been driven over many times, her family say

A family of a woman whose grave they say is sinking want the council to stop mini diggers driving on it.

Kayanne Harris said they had "tried for to keep some respect" for her partner's grandmother, who is buried at Coney Hill cemetery in Gloucester.

"When you go to a cemetery you have the decency to not walk over someone's grave... they are driving over her," she said.

The city council said their operations were in line with national practice.

The grave of Diane Hemming is among those which have been driven over so many times "it is starting to sink".

Ms Harris, whose partner is Mrs Hemming's grandson, said: "Years ago we put a flat border down to try and deter them from driving over the grave.

"They still did that and it all got smashed up anyway. We had flowers there and they were squashed."

Mrs Hemming's family said borders and flowers had been destroyed at her gravestone

Ms Harris said she was at a loss as to why staff did it, considering there were no available plots nearby.

"I understand they have to use diggers to dig the holes and have other machinery for maintenance but I do not understand why they need to take that route." she said.

Concerns were raised about working practices at the cemetery during a council meeting on 16 November, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported.

Opposition councillors called for a re-think over rules which were preventing grieving families from having their own borders and gifts left for their loved ones.

A Gloucester City Council spokesperson said their operations were in line with national practice

The city council said rules did not allow families to place borders, kerb sets or chippings on graves unless they were approved by a stonemason, as this allowed the grounds to be maintained.

It added the use of operational equipment to dig graves was in line with national practice and was needed to navigate the cemetery site.

A council spokesperson added: "We would always look for the best access route to dig a grave and sometimes have no choice but to remove items to gain access, this would always be undertaken in as sensitive a manner as possible.

"We have already committed to undertake a review into the rules and regulations around cemeteries in Gloucester to ensure they still meet best practice."