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Cemetery protest at graves tribute plans
FURIOUS campaigners held an eight-hour protest at Fleetwood Cemetery over plans to limit tributes around graves.
Grieving families say they want to be able to mourn in their own way and are calling for Wyre Council chiefs to reverse plans to limit memorabilia in front of graves.
Tributes would be banned apart from in a 15 inch space in front of gravestones.
Susan Stafford, of Harris Street, has her son, Ivan, buried in the cemetery. He died of cerebral palsy in 2007.
She said: "We are hoping this will keep up the pressure.
"In the past the council has gone quiet and then it has come back with a vengeance. "We don't want them touching the graves."
The graves policy should have been enforced yesterday, but Wyre Council has deferred its introduction for three months after Fleetwood Town Council expressed an interest in running the cemetery.
Janet Grundy, of Whinfield Avenue, whose son Stuart lost his battle against cerebral palsy aged 10 and is buried in the cemetery, said: "They have given us another three months but it will give us the chance to show we will carry on and we will not stop."
Scores of people visited the demonstration and passing motorists were asked to stop and sign the petition. It now has more than 200 signatures.
Laura Brodie, of Orchard Drive, regularly visits the grave of her daughter Elyssa, who was stillborn in February last year.
She said: "We have friends whose graves are in the same row and we look after them and keep them tidy.
"If someone's flowers are looking a bit tired we will change them."
Tracey and Colin Ainscough of Addison Road, were demonstrating to protect the grave of son Charli, stillborn in July 2003.
Mr Ainscough said: "We have flowers and a few toys – not much.
"It gives comfort for us to be able to do these things and it's a way of bringing him into our lives."
The protesters have also formed A Friends of Fleetwood Cemetery group on Facebook, calling for volunteers to help with maintenance, should the town council move in. It already has more than 200 members.
In addition more than 438 have signed up online at ipetitions.com in protest at the council policy.
Fleetwood councillor Lorraine Beavers said: "Whether the town council takes the cemetery over, I am not bothered as long as we win."
Wyre Council wants to introduce the policy for safety reasons and ease of maintenance. It will apply to Fleetwood Cemetery, two cemeteries in Poulton and Preesall Cemetery.
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Wednesday 30 May 2012
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