Weymouth residents asked for views on 'Living Cemeteries'

It comes after one councillor who is opposed to overgrown cemeteries said the sites should be "beautiful places that honour the dead, not jungles".

Councillors gave a mixed response to a Weymouth Town Council policy known as 'Living Cemeteries' - designated areas in each of the three local cemeteries which are left to grow, only being cut once or twice a year.

The aim is to provide more natural areas to support pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, in line with guidance from Dorset Wildlife Trust.

Cllr Joanna Dickenson described the name Living Cemeteries as 'absurd' and said the sites should be neat and tidy.

Now local people are being asked for their views.

Melcombe Regis Cemetery is one of the 'Living Cemeteries' in Weymouth (Image: Tom Lawrence)

A report by council officers said that erratic weather conditions this year and over the winter had caused areas to grow quicker than anticipated, leaving grass longer than they would have liked.

READ MORE: "It's a disgrace": Overgrown cemetery sparks debate amongst residents

This has resulted in numerous enquiries from the public and the press regarding the appearance of the facilities.

Following recent feedback around grass cutting in the cemeteries the council is responsible for maintaining, members of the environment and services committee voted in favour of running a consultation to gain further feedback. 

Cllr Joanna Dickenson said: “I feel really strongly about this.

“First off 'Living Cemeteries' seems a slightly ironic if not absurd title.

“It seems to be there has been a huge cost-cutting measure and I think it is downright disrespectful.

“Cemeteries should be neat, beautiful places that honour the dead, not jungles.

“I have had numerous residents speaking to me and feeling very upset at the situation.

“I do not want my parents’ graves covered in weeds and grass.

"I am not against what they are trying to do, I just think cemeteries are not the right place."

Cllr Louie O’Leary added: “I don’t think that it is right and proper to have allowed cemeteries to become an experiment for environmental cause.

“I think there are better places for these things, there are plenty of green spaces that we could trial these things in.”

Cllr Ryan Hope said: “I haven’t received any direct complaints about cemeteries from any residents.

“I have seen fruitful conversations on social media, both cases for and against cutting them.

“I am in a position here where I can see both sides of the argument.

“We know the environmental benefits of allowing the area to grow and those that believe it is a cost-cutting measure by the council, it is probably quite the opposite, when it comes to cutting the areas, there is a lot more work involved.

“I would propose we defer the decision and ask for a consultation so that we have data to make an informed decision on what our residents actually want."

The committee unanimously agreed to defer the decision for a public consultation to be undertaken.