‘Heartbreak and devastation’ as families asked to remove personal touches from graves at Northampton cemetery

A family has spoken of its heartbreak after being asked to move personal touches from a loved one’s grave at a Northampton cemetery.

In the 'garden of rest' at Kingsthorpe Cemetery in Harborough Road North, pebbles, stones, chippings, edging, fencing and conifers have to be removed from around gravestones by the end of this month.

Veolia, the company in charge of maintenance at the site, left notes on the graves which had any of these belongings to inform family members that the items are no longer permitted.

Donna Brinklow, who has visited her father’s grave at the site every week since he died in June last year, says the items have never been an issue until the notice was seen in the middle of January.

The daughter also claims that when her family first took on the plot, they asked if personal touches such as these were allowed and they were told as long as the grave was kept tidy, the items were permitted.

Donna said: “Everyone there has been asked to do this, but the graves that have these items are kept beautifully.

“When you go up there, there are graves that are derelict and nothing is left on them.

“But nothing is being done about these ones that are a mess.

“Now it will look worse than ever with nothing other than mud and grass around the gravestones.”

The family has been left feeling frustrated by the decision as they have not been provided with a reason for the rule change.

Donna added: “It’s heartbreaking for families, especially those who have had stuff there for years.

“All we want to do is make our loved one’s graves look nice.

“The worse thing is I just don’t know what they are trying to achieve by asking people to remove the items. I don’t think they have a reason.

“I think it’s something to do with strimming, but they never strim that close to my dad’s grave anyway. We do it ourselves in the summer.

“It is devastating and unfair.

“I also want other families to know they can escalate it if they aren’t happy with the policy change.”

Donna has even lodged a complaint with Veolia in a bid to find out why the decision has been made, but she is yet to receive a response.

A spokeswoman for Veolia said: “Working closely with our contractors, idverde on behalf of Northampton Borough Council, our grounds maintenance team strive to ensure all our public spaces, amenities and facilities are well maintained.

“The matter is being looked into fully and a response will be made directly to the resident.

“We apologise for any inconvenience and upset caused.”

The spokeswoman did not reply when Chronicle & Echo asked for clarification around why personal belongings are no longer allowed.

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