Gloucester cemetery rule changes being considered after outcry

Mini diggers have been used to dig or reopen graves at short notice

New rules for cemeteries are being considered after concerns about mini diggers driving over graves.

Gloucester City Council is reviewing whether it should tell drivers of machinery to use protective boarding on the ground, where possible.

Changes to rules on borders and ornaments around graves are also being considered.

Council leader Richard Cook said the proposed rules seemed "very sensible".

A motion calling for a rethink was submitted to the council by Community Independent Group councillors Alastair Chambers and Brendon O'Donnell.

It followed Sharna Andrews being told to remove the fence around her late son's grave at Coney Hill Cemetery and Crematorium in Gloucester as it did not comply with regulations.

Sharna Andrews was told to remove fencing around her son's grave because it did not comply with cemetery rules

Mr Cook said he was happy for the changes to "go out to consultation as soon as possible".

The proposed rules state grave spaces should be grass seeded once the grave space has settled at ground level, approximately 12 months after interment.

The rules would allow plants, flowers and bulbs to be planted in a border 3ft (91.44 cm) in width and 2ft (60.96cm) in depth in front of the headstone.

However, any planting or ornaments exceeding this would be removed, and all floral tributes with plastic would have to be removed two weeks after the burial.

Deputy council leader Hannah Norman told the cabinet meeting one of the major changes being recommended was expanding the options of materials which were allowed to define the border where a headstone would normally sit.

A councillor has previously shared concerns about machinery driving over graves

"The proposed new rules add concrete as a border option as this is more cost effective 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," she added.

The new rules will now be consulted upon and a follow-up report will go before council leaders in March.

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