Widower not allowed to leave flowers at dead wife's grave due to 'health and safety concerns'
Jimmy NsubugaSaturday 22 Feb 2014 12:04 pm
Martin Conway will no longer be allowed to leave flowers at his wife's grave (Picture: Archant)
A widower in Norfolk can no longer leave flowers at the grave of his dead wife because of 'health and safety concerns'.
Martin Conway, 85, had been leaving tributes for his wife Pat at the cemetery since her death two years ago.
But Cromer Town council has now told him he must stop because of fears workers could be injured by broken pots, the Daily Mail reported.
It said the rule was brought in a few years ago when a cemetery employee slashed his knee on a shattered container.
'It was a complete bombshell when this letter arrived,' said Mr Conway, who was married to his wife for 60 years.
'I have never been so upset by anything. Health and safety just seems to be an issue for everything these days.
'When you go to a cemetery to stand by the grave of a loved one, putting a few flowers there is a great mark of respect and love. The regulations stopped that.'
The council told Mr Conway he could only leave flowers if a vase was built into his wife's memorial stone.
But this rule doesn't apply to the loved ones of those that have not been cremated, who will still be allowed to leave pots of flowers at the graves.
Mr Conway added: 'It is grossly unfair that the rule only applies to plots where ashes are buried and not normal graves.'
Cromer town council will start removing unsanctioned flowers from April.