The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Grieving families say they are appalled at Holbeach Parish Council telling them to remove “inappropriate” items placed on their loved ones’ graves.
Notices warning of the move went up in the councils’ cemeteries last year, with notes pinned to individual graves a fortnight ago.
Becci Holden and Charlotte Hobday are so outraged that they began online petitions against the move. More than 2,300 signatures have been gathered so far.
At the grave of stillborn Millie Williams are mum Becci Holden, with daughter Amber, and grandmother Joy Holden.
Becci (19), of Maple Grove, Holbeach, has her stillborn daughter Millie at Hallgate cemetery. The grave is adorned with flowers, butterfly solar lights, and small soft toys and stone ornaments.
She said: “I go there every week if possible. It’s somewhere I can treat her like she’s still here.”
Becci’s mum Joy said: “I’ve never seen anything offensive at the cemetery. Each individual grave has what the relatives want.”
Charlotte lost mum Maria (50) suddenly to a cerebral aneurysm a year ago tomorrow.(February 6)
Widower Pete, of Long Sutton, said: “If I’d have known the rules about what they’re saying now, no way would I have had her buried there.”
The families say they have been told that everything laid must fit on the headstone.
A spokesman for Holbeach Parish Council said: “The issue in essence is regarding excess and in some cases inappropriate items placed on graves which contravenes cemetery regulations.
“Placement of certain items is prohibited in the interests of health and safety (for example granite chippings), maintenance issues in keeping the cemeteries grassed areas mown and in general for the upkeep of the appearance of the graves and the cemeteries as a whole.”
