New rules on grave tributes face being rejected by council

NEW cemetery rules allowing more freedom with grave tribute items in Broxtowe could be rejected, despite previous pledges by the council.

- By LAUREN MONAGHAN

A petition started by Broxtowe families affected by council cemetery rules - called Save our Cemetery Gardens and Memorials - gained nearly 1,000 signatures in its first week in October. This was in response to a Broxtowe Borough Council cabinet decision in July 2024, leading to “unofficial surrounds” being removed from graves in the borough's cemeteries. This was starting with a January 2025 deadline for Chilwell Cemetery.

The council's reasons for this were based on maintenance difficulties, health and safety and because the rules already existed. Cabinet documents from 2009 confirm the rules were in place since then, but the bereavement service only updated its Notice of Internment forms in 2023 to list prohibited items.

The 2023 form bans items such as fencing, kerbing, bedding plants, vases, windmills, glass and alcohol from being placed on grave space in the lawn and cremated remains area.