Changes to plots a Section 12 of Coed Bell Cemetery
Changes are being introduced to plots at Section 12 of Coed Bell Cemetery in Prestatyn which will mean that any memorials, vases or any other items placed on the turfed section of graves will not be allowed after the end of February 2017.
Now the Council has written to people who are are listed as contacts for the graves, to inform them of the position.
This section of Coed Bell is a lawned cemetery and regulations state that only a memorial (such as a headstone) and a base to lay a vase for flowers is permitted. All contacts for graves are made aware of this when they first purchase a plot. The turf on the remaining part of the grave should not be cut to form a flower bed or border, nor shall any memorial vase be placed on the turf.
However, over recent times, additional items have been placed on some of the plots and this has led to an increase in complaints from other cemetery users.
People will now be respectfully asked to remove any items by 28th February 2017. Any items remaining on the turfed area of graves after this date will be removed, held for a short period of time and then disposed of. Signs will be going up in this section of the cemetery to inform people of the regulations and a letter is being sent to people who are the main contact for plots.
The new restrictions only apply to Section 12 of the cemetery as it is the only section of the cemetery that was opened after the regulations came into effect in 1999.
We recognise that this is a very sensitive issue, with some of these items likely to have personal value for the families affected, but we need to balance that against the fact that a lawned cemetery helps us to keep things looking neat and tidy more easily, and also the fact that the majority of cemetery users want the Council to uphold the rules.
The number of graves with unauthorised items is very small, at around 15% of the 269 plots, but the number of complaints is on the increase. That is why we are informing people in plenty of time, so that they can take away any items not allowed in a dignified manner and at their convenience.