‘Unique’ cemetery says grieving relatives must pay for VIP passes to visit graves | UK News

A cemetery has started charging £5 per visit to a loved one’s graves.

Bereaved relatives can still access the Garden of Remembrance free of charge in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, between 9am and 3pm, Monday to Friday.

But after 19 years in business, the cemetery will soon require the purchase of a one-time VIP pass for visits outside of normal opening hours.

It costs £5 to visit a grave or cremation ground, and £10 per person to visit the rose garden, according to notices erected at the Spring Garden Road site.

Electric gates will prevent anyone without a VIP pass from accessing the grounds.

It won’t come into effect until January, but it’s already sparking outrage among people whose family and friends are buried there, the Stoke Sentinel reports.

Jode Bourne, whose father Mark was buried there, said: “Now I have to pay a membership fee to visit my father’s grave.

“It’s an absolute disgrace. Shame on you, Garden of Remembrance.

A poster at the cemetery states: “From January 2025, this site will be protected by an electric gate.

“Gates at the front of the site will open and close automatically at set times.

“Entry to the cemetery will be via a VIP pass making the site secure for our staff, families and visitors.

“Please make sure you have your pass in time for the new year. »

A second notice states: “For visitors without a VIP pass, access to the cemetery will be between office hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday only.

“Please note, there will be no access on weekends, public holidays or any other date when the office is closed. Thank you for your cooperation.

However, cemetery owner Jason Taft – who spent £8,000 on beefing up security – claims the information on the signs is false.

Instead, he explained, normal access to the 1,300 graves is between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. in winter and until 7 p.m. in summer.

Mr Taft, who said he had handed out 90 free passes to the most vulnerable visitors, said: “There are 1,300 graves there and we couldn’t send out that many keys for people to come and get a card if they wish.

“We don’t lock people outside and this gives them access to the cemetery until 9 p.m., when we would normally be closed.”

“People can know it’s safe when they are visiting and will now be safe from unwanted break-ins.

“The key cards won’t come into effect until January 1 because people wouldn’t be happy if we did it before Christmas.”

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