Move to ban decorations from cemeterys in the New Forest

Civic chiefs want to stop people placing items like wind chimes, fencing and solar lights next to the headstones of loved ones.

Although rules on graveside memorabilia already exist for cemeteries run by New Forest District Council, a fresh set of guidelines is being drawn up aimed at tightening enforcement.

That could mean staff removing certain items placed within designated “formal lawn” burial areas in council cemeteries, which include Beaulieu, Lymington, New Milton, Milford Road and Sway.

The authority’s head of environmental services, Colin Read, said different guidelines would apply to two of their other sites, Eling and Blackfield, where some types of memorabilia would be permitted in “informal” areas.

However, he added that cemetery staff would retain the right to remove those items for access or maintenance purposes.

He told a meeting of the council’s environment review panel: “For the likes of Lymington, New Milton and Sway, the problem is not anywhere near as bad as at Blackfield and Eling.

“The key is that we need to have a consistent approach so the people who use the cemeteries know what the regulations are and keep to them.”

Moves are also being made to tighten restrictions on leaving any memorabilia at woodland sections of cemeteries.

But Councillor Alan Weeks questioned whether mourners should be banned from leaving flowers by trees and shrubs and asked that the matter be given further consideration.

He said: “To not allow flowers seems a little over the top. It is not necessarily the case that people who have woodland burials just want a tree there.”

Councillor Fran Carpenter disagreed, adding: “We really just have to be strict on it.

“If you don’t start as you mean to go on, people will just copy what they see and it will get out of hand.”

The guidelines will be reviewed further before the item is put before Cabinet members.