Leaders at Walsall Council have agreed to 'consider' amending its controversial cemetery policy after recent enforcement action 'played with people's emotions'. The decision follows distress caused by the removal of memorials and edgings from graves at Streetly Cemetery, as previously reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Policy Enforcement Sparks Anger
Walsall Council said it had informed grave owners ahead of the enforcement action, but some families claimed they were unaware until they visited the site. At lawn cemeteries across the borough, the council's policy states that small items such as vases can be placed directly in front of headstones but must not spread over the length of the grassed grave.
Speaking at a meeting of full council on Monday night, Councillor Aftab Nawaz, leader of the Walsall Community Independents (WCI), said the policy had not been enforced for seven or eight years. He added that the items had not caused harm to other cemetery users or interfered with the work of maintenance staff.
Motion for Review
All eight members of WCI submitted a Notice of Motion calling for the Reform cabinet to review the policy as a matter of urgency and consider allowing the memorials and edgings at Streetly Cemetery. Reform submitted a slight amendment to the motion, stating that a policy was already being drafted following a consultation last year, and that changes will apply to all cemeteries across the borough rather than just Streetly.
Councillor Nawaz said: “The notice of motion is about the issues that have arisen at Streetly Cemetery particularly in regards to memorials and edgings. My view is that having edging and memorials doesn’t harm anyone. It allows people to mourn their deceased in the way they wish to. If it were harming anyone we would have had reports of that harm, if it was creating health and safety issues we would have had reports. This policy has created a lot of misery and hurt and it’s for no other reason than ‘we’ve got a rule and we need to keep to it’.”
Impact on Families
Councillor Khizar Hussain, deputy leader of WCI, added: “This issue has caused a lot of distress for people. It isn’t just for one faith or one community, it’s an issue for all communities. I had calls from the English community also. We’ve played this really badly as a council. The problem is there is a policy but we’ve been very inconsistent. We were informed by grave owners that they’ve gone to the graveyard and their loved one’s surrounds have been taken off and they didn’t know about it. We need to go back to the drawing board to review it and allow grave owners, if they want, to have edging and memorials.”
Councillor Hajran Bashir added: “I’ve had many residents across Walsall contact me with a deep concern about the recent enforcement action. These items are not simply decorations, they are items of grief and personal remembrance. It’s important that the administration recognises the emotional significance of these memorials and the need for families to care for the graves in the way that feels right for them.”
Council Response
Councillor Ashfaq Ahmed said: “While I am entirely sympathetic to the council’s maintenance challenges, we cannot ignore the deep hurt that strict enforcement causes. We need compassion, not just rigid rules.”
Leader of the council, Councillor Elaine Williams, responded: “A new policy is currently being drafted on the back of last year’s consultation. So we will commit to looking at the policy as a matter of urgency once it’s drafted and consider amending it to allow memorial and edging on all graves, not just at Streetly. We’re listening to what residents want and all policies need to apply across the board for the whole of Walsall.”
Councillor Nawaz thanked Reform for its understanding and the amendment was approved.
