Fakenham Town Council to remove items left on graves

Fakenham Town Council has written to grave plot owners at the town’s Creake Road and Queen’s Road cemeteries, which it is responsible for, warning it will remove any “unauthorised” items left on graves by the end of next month.

The council says this is to uphold its health and safety rules so visitors to the cemetery and grounds staff are “not put at risk”.

If families fail to take home banned items left on the graves of their loved ones by May 31, the council will store them for collection within a period of four months, with any broken or damaged items being dumped.

The entrance to Creake Road Cemetery in Fakenham, where the town council has said it will remove items from graves (Image: Google Maps)

Steve Pope, whose father George Pope has a grave at Creake Road Cemetery, said it has caused “major upset” for families in Fakenham.

“I’m disgusted with the council,” he said.

“It’s so upsetting for people. We pay an extortionate amount for the rights for our burial plots, and it’s totally wrong that people who tend and care for their loved ones are then told what they can and can’t leave on graves.

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“The council have taken health and safety too far. Rethink your actions and show some care and consideration for the people of this town.”

Mr Pope says he was told to remove the metal surround left on his father’s grave after being told it is a “trip hazard”.

George Pope's grave at Creake Road Cemetery in Fakenham, with the surround which the town council have asked his son, Steve Pope, to remove (Image: Steve Pope)

Fakenham Town Council said: “We completely understand and respect the wishes of bereaved families who want to remember loved ones with mementoes.

“However, we are required to uphold health and safety regulations to ensure visitors to the cemeteries, and the grounds staff mowing and strimming to keep the cemeteries in good order, are not put at risk.

“We placed some notices up before the inspection requesting for non-permitted items to be removed, and we thank the families who voluntarily did so. Now we are having to write to those few who did not”.

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The entrance to the Queen's Road cemetery in Fakenham (Image: Google Maps)

The letter sent to families

A letter was sent by Fakenham Town Council to grave plot owners at Creake Road cemetery last week.

The letter Mr Pope received on April 22 read: "An inspection of Creake Road cemetery was carried out on 27th February 2024, to check that graves are being maintained according to the rules and regulations of the cemetery.

"The regulations are to ensure the heath and safety of all who visit and work there, and to enable the maintenance of the site. A copy of the rules and regulations are enclosed, for your information.

"During the inspection it was noted that some of the graves have items on them which are not permitted. We are writing to the owners of the Exclusive Right of Burial (ERB) of these graves to ask them to remove these items. According to our records you are the current owner of the ERB on the grave of George Pope.

"Could you please arrange to remove all items that are not permitted under the regulations such as astro turf, breakable vases/pots, solar lights/mole scarers, windmills, ornaments and gardens, wooden/metal surrounds, pebbles etc.

We ask that these items are removed by the 31st May 2024. After this date, if the items have not been removed, the council will make arrangements to remove and store them for a further four months to enable you to contact the office to arrange collection.

"We will be unable to store any items that are damaged or broken in any way.
If you should need clarification of what is permitted on the graves, or you wish to discuss this matter, please contact the office either by email: info@fakenhamtowncouncil.gov.uk or telephone: 01328 853653."