Walsall councillors agree to review cemetery policy in the wake of enforcement upset

Leaders at Walsall Council have agreed to ‘consider’ amending its controversial cemetery policy after recent enforcement action ‘played with people’s emotions’.

As previously reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, families were left distressed and upset after cemetery staff removed memorials and edgings from graves at Streetly Cemetery.

Walsall Council said it had informed grave owners ahead of the enforcement action being taken, but some claimed families of the deceased were unaware until they turned up at the site.

At lawn cemeteries across the borough, the council’s policy states small items such as vases can be placed directly in front of the 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 hadn’t been enforced for seven or eight years.

He added that the items have not caused harm to other cemetery users or interfered with the work of maintenance staff.

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’.

“I’m not saying we shouldn’t have rules but a policy is only a policy if you enforce it. If you don’t enforce it for at least seven or eight years how can you blame the people for putting things on the graves of the deceased.

“For us to just say that was the rule when you signed up, but we’ve allowed you to do it anyway then try to stop them, it’s playing with people’s emotions.

“We propose through the notice of motion that we do a review with a view of changing the policy so that it allows people, within defined terms, to have items put on their grave as they wish.”

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.”

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.