CONTROVERSIAL plans that would have seen grave ornaments and unauthorised borders removed from Copeland graves have been mothballed in light of public reaction.
In a video statement, elected Mayor Mike Starkie said that after the May elections a working party will be set up to find a solution to the problem and the public will be consulted.
In the meantime, he emphasised that information that ornaments and borders must be removed by April 15 no longer applied, and that no action would be taken over cemeteries until after the consultation.
Grieving families lashed out at Copeland council when they were told that their precious ornaments and unauthorised borders were to be removed.
Among them was Alicia Hanlon, 25, of Mirehouse in Whitehaven, whose baby boy Theo is buried in the cemetery.
She said the announcement came as a 'huge personal and emotional blow' to her family.
She said: "We visit our son's grave weekly, and during the summer our three young children come with us, as we have explained this is their garden where they can sit and talk to their angel brother.
"We let them put small statues, plants, pictures, cards, anything to let them say hello to him.
Two public meetings were held including one at the Beacon on Friday night.
Both were well attended with a lot of emotion from people who have chosen to remember their loved ones in their own ways.
Mr Starkie would not comment this week because Copeland is now in a pre-election mode which has strict rules around what those seeking election can say.
But in his message, recorded after the meetings, he said this was a most sensitive issue.
The problem arose because Copeland has lawn cemeteries that need to be maintained, he said. It is hard to mow the grass where there are ornaments and unauthorised borders.
Mr Starkie admitted: "I don’t think there is a solution in existence that everyone will be happy with. But we must try and find a workable solution.”
In the meantime he emphasised again that the April 15 deadline no longer exists and that nothing more will be done without public consultation.
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