The 153-year-old cemetery on the eastern edge of the town is managed by Stroud Town Council on behalf of its owners, Stroud District Council.

As part of an ongoing Management Plan, the Town Council has been implementing a wide range of works over the past 10 years. The Plan seeks to improve both sites, not only as a burial facility but as amenity open space, wildlife habitat and as an historical and educational resource.

This week letters will be sent to over 130 grant (plot) holders asking them to remove or reposition a wide range of kerbstones or edgings. These are located at numerous parts of the New Cemetery which lies to the south of Horns Road.

The New Cemetery was designed as a lawn cemetery, meaning grant holders should only install gravestones, leaving the remainder of the site as open grassland. However the rising number of unauthorised intallations, some stretching for two metres in front of a gravestone, are causing serious problems for other users. In several places gravestones have even been installed at the wrong end of the grave.

Managers say they are making the move ‘reluctantly’ but need to address complaints that the installations are making the New Cemetery untidy and making it dangerous for some people to access their family graves.

Of greatest concern is that in several places unauthorised kerbstones are now actually blocking access. It means that machinery can not reach plots to dig new graves which have been reserved by families.

Several burial services have also been hampered because unauthorised kerbstones on neighbouring graves have made it difficult for mourners to stand alongside.

Grant holders will have 18months to make alternative arrangements. To help families, the Cemetery Regulations have recently been amended to now allow a small garden area in front of each gravestone.

The removal programme has the support of local stone masons and funeral directors who say the current situation is making it difficult for them to work safely.

”We feel a lawned cemetery is a much better arrangement,” said Michael Gamble of Michael Gamble Funeral Directors. “Kerbstones can be dangerous for mourners at the graveside as they can present a trip hazard.”

”I can understand why people want kerbstones,” added Steve Cottle of Cottle Memorials, "but it can make the cemetery look untidy and doesn't show our work off in a good light. Removing illegal kerbstones will make the cemetery easier and safer to work in.”

The Town Council has this week written to every registered grant holder affected by the removal programme outlining the reasons for it and the timescales for action to be taken. However it is concerned that many people will not have updated their contact details and it is keen to ensure every one is made aware in plenty of time to take action.

Notices will be placed around the new cemetery and details are also available from the Town Council office and website. If anyone is unsure whether their plot is affected and have not received a letter, staff at the Town Council office in London Road are happy to offer advice and assistance.

DOWNLOADS:

Link to Stroud Cemetery Regulations

Stroud Cemetery Access Improvement Strategy  improvementplankamnov09 117.48 Kb

Article placed online: February 28th 2010

Photo by Andy Read