Broxtowe families will be allowed to have memorial gardens on their loved ones’ graves after nearly two years of discussions.
The long-awaited memorial changes at Broxtowe Borough Council-run cemeteries were finally approved by the authority’s cabinet in a meeting on Tuesday (September 29).
Broxtowe’s council faced backlash and protests after ruling in July 2024 that tribute items must be removed from graves at all five council-run cemeteries
At the time, the authority said this was due to maintenance difficulties, health and safety concerns, and the fact that the rules already existed but had not always been enforced. It meant those with existing memorial gardens on loved ones’ graves would have to remove them.
Families fought back in October 2024, arguing ‘Notice of Interment’ forms – that families sign – were only updated in 2023 to note prohibited grave items, such as fencing, bedding plants, vases, windmills, glass and alcohol, meaning there was confusion over which items were allowed on graves.
Now, after nearly two years, the council, in collaboration with affected families, has formalised its new set of memorial and grave rules, allowing people to place tribute items at their loved one’s burial site.
For those with existing memorial garden kerb sets, the width of these will remain at three feet, with the depth remaining at seven feet, whereas for those wishing to install a new memorial garden kerb set, the width of these will also be three feet, but the depth will be capped at three feet and three inches.
The rules state that before new memorial gardens can be installed on graves, grave owners must apply for permission to the authority’s bereavement services, detailing their proposed design, layout, materials, edging, and structures, and pay an application fee of £75.
For memorial garden applications relating to graves of children under the age of 18, there will be no fee.
Speaking during the meeting, Councillor Tyler Marsh (Brox Alliance), Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change, said: “I think we’re all happy to see this. We all know this is a product of a very long journey, one that hasn’t always been the smoothest.
“Enough thanks can’t really go to the Friends of Broxtowe Cemeteries. Lots of councils and public bodies talk often about co-production and it’s very hard to achieve, but here the level of involvement has really delivered a co-produced policy that will work better than it has done in the past.”
Cllr Gabrielle Bunn (Brox Alliance) said the no fee for memorial gardens on graves for those younger than 18 was “excellent”.
She said: “There’s a line in one of my favourite films that says no parents should have to bury their child.
“I’ve seen first-hand how important that space is to them and enables them to work through their grief and remember their child.”
A statement on behalf of the Friends of Broxtowe Cemeteries expressed the group’s thanks to councillors and officers for their support during the work to establish the new rules.
They said: “Compromises have been made on all sides, but we hope the new rules give families more flexibility in how they are able to express their grief at the graveside, whilst still allowing the council to maintain the cemeteries safely.
“We are happy and relieved to have finally resolved the matter. We will continue to work with the council as the new rules and regulations are rolled out.”
The authority’s leader, Milan Radulovic, said during the meeting that the new set of cemetery rules was the “best set of working regulations across the whole of the country”, adding: “I think what you’ve achieved here is remarkable and that there’s sympathy, understanding and yet sets clearly defined boundaries for accessibility for those groups.”
An updated list of prohibited grave items is also included in the new rules.
This includes glass items – except glass lanterns provided by stonemasons – plastic picket fencing, chain-link fencing, metal fencing or decorative railings, plastic flowers, windmills, balloons, furniture and flashing, strobe or novelty lights.
By Lauren Monaghan, Local Democracy Reporter
