Council U-turn as they amend policies on Cross Cemetery

Rodney Edwards • Published 17 Jan 2012 17:02

FERMANAGH District Council have performed a U-turn by announcing they are to amend some of their policies and procedures at Cross Cemetery in Enniskillen following a public consultation.

Previously, families who purchased a Right of Burial prior to September 2008 were allowed to have an edging, but not a surround. This option will now be available for all plots.

The Council say that if a family now opts to maintain the plot themselves, they will install a thin metal edging sunken to ground level around the plot. Families who choose this option will be required to maintain the plot in accordance with the guidance notes that the Council will now produce and in the event that the plot is not maintained to the required standard, the Council will lay amenity turf and maintain the plot thereafter.

This is just one of three recommendations made following the consultation.

Altogether, 183 consultation packs were sent to existing owners of a Right of Burial in Cross Cemetery of which 45 completed questionnaires were return. In addition, 81 consultation questionnaires were completed and returned by members of the public.

Other changes to the rules state that a marble slab will now be provided on Council maintained plots, on request, for the purpose of putting flowers/wreaths and mementos down. All marble slabs will be required to be sited at the base of the headstone or at the head of the plot if no headstone exists. In a double plot, when the second grave has been opened, an additional marble slab will be provided if required.

And if a family opts to maintain the plot themselves there will be no limit to the number of flowers/wreaths or mementos on the plot provided as long as they do not exceed 500 millimetres in height. The Council say if a family opts for them to maintain the plot, amenity turf will be laid after 90 days from interment and the number of flowers/wreaths or mementos will be restricted to two if no marble slab is requested.

In relation to surrounds, the Council has not changed the policy and no surrounds will be permitted in Cross Cemetery.

The review followed a recommendation by Fermanagh District Council's Environmental Services Committee on July 19 2011. Two consultation meetings were held; one with a focus group comprising of undertakers and clergy, and one with employees responsible for the maintenance of Cross Cemetery. A representative group of councillors considered the consultation responses and the range of issues raised. The sub group reviewed the Policy and Procedures for the Operation and Management of Cross Cemetery taking account of the issues raised and made recommendations to the Council's Environmental Services Committee. These were approved at the Council meeting on January 9 2012.

The revised Policy and Procedures will be effective from February 1 2012 and will be applied retrospectively to all burial plots within the cemetery.

For further reaction to this story as families with relatives in the cemetery respond to the decision, see Thursday's Impartial Reporter.

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This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 17 Jan 12

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