A cemetery in the United Kingdom has been blasted for wanting to charge people to visit their loved ones' gravesites.
The owners of the Garden of Remembrance in Stoke-on-Trent, says the decision is in a bid to get rid of 'undesirables'.
Essentially, those wanting to visit the cemetery will have to buy a VIP pass, while those without one will only be allowed on the property during office hours.
"From January 2025 this site will be protected by electric gates. The gates at the front of the site will open and close automatically at set times," read a note posted at the entrance of the site.
A second notice alerted people to the fact that there will also be no access to the cemetery on weekends, bank holidays, and any other days that the office is closed.
The decision has not gone down well with locals.
Taking to social media, resident Jode Ellen, shared her thoughts.
Ellen said she had to pay a huge amount [of money] to bury her father at the cemetery.
"Months down the line you get told that you cannot place items on or around the graves because of the maintenance being able to access to graves, may I add that you have pay a yearly fee for, but do not tend to the graves at all.
"Leaving them overgrown, taking items of without informing the family members and throwing them in to a shed! Now I need to pay for a membership to visit my Dad's grave?" she expressed.
Ellen expressed concern regarding those who may not be able to afford the fees.
"This is an absolute disgrace! Shame on you Garden Of Remembrance," Ellen said.
In a public Facebook group, people concurred with Ellen's post.
Marie Ward said it was not about the money but rather the principle behind the decision. "I have two parents buried at the Garden of Remembrance and I work full time. I am unable to visit Monday to Friday and I find it completely disgusting that I should be made to buy a VIP pass to visit my parents' resting place. It isn't the money, it's the principle," Ward said.
Annette Rhodes alleged that items are repeatedly stolen off the graves and tree roots damaging sites. "Now being forced to pay for visiting when you can't do their new opening times. Absolutely appalling treatment of people who have lost dear loved ones," Rhodes said.
Responding to criticism, cemetery owner Jason Taft, said he spent over £8,000 (R181,758.56) to keep the property secure. He said the passes would work as key cards to open the gate and gain entry into the cemetery.
Speaking to a local UK publication, he added that there were more than 1,000 graves on the property and they could not send out that many keys for people to collect if they wanted.
He said the idea is not to lock people out but rather give them access to the cemetery until 9 pm when they would otherwise be closed.
Taft added that 90 free passes had been handed out to the most vulnerable in the community who had family buried at the cemetery.
He said people know that they will be safe from undesirables when they are visiting the Garden of Remembrance.
seanne.rall@iol.co.za
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