East Herringthorpe cemetery reopens after rule change
The coronavirus regulations have been altered to allow burial grounds, gardens of remembrance or grounds surrounding a crematorium to open.
The other seven Rotherham Council-owned sites allowed visitors earlier in the week.
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Polly Hamilton, RMBC assistant director for culture, sport and tourism, said: “The initial regulations relating to the closure of cemeteries and crematoriums caused confusion across the country, so we lobbied hard as a council to get the position clarified and for a review of the decision.
“We are therefore pleased this amendment has now been made to the regulations to allow the burial ground at the crematorium to re-open and that people are now able to visit the graves of loved ones.”
The crematorium building itself remains closed except for when services are taking place.
Social distancing must be observed at all times and funerals can only have ten mourners.
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Cllr Emma Hoddinott, Rotherham Council’s cabinet member for community safety, said: “I am pleased that the Government has now confirmed to councils that it has changed the regulations to allow all burial grounds, gardens of remembrance or grounds surrounding a crematorium, such as Herringthorpe, to open.
“Sadly while it was always going to be distressing to families that they were unable to visit loved ones whilst grieving, the Government’s approach to making statements in the media first and changing the rules second has only made a difficult situation worse.”