Calls have been made for Spalding Cemetery to be open for longer now COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted and with longer daylight hours.
Chris Wells says the Pinchbeck Road area should be open 8am to dusk like others, so mourners can visit graves throughout the day.
It’s currently only open in the summer until 6.30pm with the gates unlocked at 9am, Monday to Friday and 10am at the weekend.
But South Holland District Council, which owns and maintains the facility says the hours are like that to minimise anti-social behaviour in the area.
“Most cemeteries open until dusk but South Holland has other ideas,” Mr Wells said. “One pensioner went to attend a grave at 9.45am on a recent Sunday and she wasn’t even allowed in to the grave.
“Others I know went at 5pm recently but couldn’t get in.
“How can people go in if they work usual hours?”
A spokesman for South Holland District Council said: “There are no immediate plans to change the opening times of the site.
“The current times are in place to minimise the risk of vandalism or anti-social behaviour, given the cemetery’s closeness to the town centre, and to be considerate of the private resident based within the grounds.”
- South Holland District Council looks set to spend £22,500 on a new ‘dump truck’ and trailer for Spalding Cemetery.
A published decision by the authority’s assistant director for Neighbourhoods states: “The current vehicle is 20 plus years old and is in desperate need of replacement.
“It has been condemned in a recent Health and Safety visit and is now beyond economic repair with parts becoming almost impossible to find.
“A new dump truck with trailer will be able to be used not only in the cemetery but also to assist in council house void clearances.
“The replacement vehicle will enable burials to continue successfully as they have done for many years.”
