petition details
Cemeteries during corona virus isolation
A lot of people feel sane going cemeteries see loved ones, especially mothers who have lost children. It will be absolutely worse for people not being able see a loved one’s grave, mental health will be 100x worse. Paint shops are open with a 2m restriction, why not have this in cemeteries.
This petition ran from 31/03/2020 to 31/07/2020 and has now finished.
4 people signed this petition.
Council response
I am writing in response to the ePetition which ran from 31/03/2020 to 31/07/2020 called “Cemeteries during Corona Virus Isolation” which asked that the Council reopened local cemeteries. As this petition has now concluded, I am writing to explain the outcome. In order to protect the public from the dangers of Covid-19, the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 came into force on 26th March, 2020, of which regulation 5 stated: "a person who is responsible for a crematorium or burial ground must ensure that, during the emergency period, the crematorium is closed to members of the public, except for funerals or burials". This was an instruction from national Government which resulted in the closure of burial grounds across the country, including Rotherham. The initial regulations relating to the closure of cemeteries and crematoriums caused confusion and distress across the country, so the Council, along with a range of other organisations, requested that Government review the decision. As a consequence, the Government changed its position and on Tuesday 21st April, 2020, following the amendment to the regulations, the following cemeteries and burial grounds re-opened to the public: Maltby, Moorgate, Haugh Road, Greasbrough, Greasbrough Lane, Masbrough, and Wath. . However, at this point, the new Government directive did not include the grounds of crematoria. On the 22nd April 2020 the Regulations were further amended by Government and this empowered the Council to reopen the burial ground at East Herringthorpe cemetery on Thursday 23rd April 2020. I do appreciate that the temporary closure of the cemeteries caused distress to those who were unable to visit their loved ones. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking the time to share your views on the matter and I am pleased that the Council was able to request a change in the national legislation in line with your petition. Please feel free to contact me if you have any further queries in relation to this matter.
Paul Woodcock Strategic Director, Regeneration and
Environment
