Criticism as Christchurch Cemetery burial sales still halted

While radar surveys and investigations of the cemetery at Jumpers Road completed in May indicated more space, BCP Council has been unable to confirm whether residents will again be able to book new burials.

This follows reports of “unreliable” record keeping at the site and suggestions some pre-purchased grave spaces had been sold more than once.

While space may yet be found, for some this would come too late.

Christchurch Cemetery (Image: Newsquest)

Lifelong Christchurch resident Stephen Parrett’s final wish was to be buried at Christchurch Cemetery, the grounds where his parents and siblings rest, and asked his sister Linda Fudge to make the arrangements.

Mindful of his declining health, Linda and her husband Paul quickly enquired to BCP Council about purchasing a plot for Stephen in May 2021 – around seven months before the council officially halted new grave purchases.

They received no reply.

They tried again in June this year and again were not responded to.

Stephen Parrett died aged 80 on September 11, following which Mr and Mrs Fudge again enquired about burial only to be told there was no space.

Because of this, Linda was faced with the decision of either burying her brother elsewhere or having him cremated and interred in the cemetery.

She elected to have him cremated, a decision she described as “heart-breaking”.

Christchurch Cemetery (Image: Newsquest)

Linda told the Echo: “Stephen didn’t want to be cremated. It’s heart-breaking because it was his final wish to be buried there and I couldn’t give him that – that weighs on me and I have to live with that now.

“We first got in contact months before the issues about space first came about, but they never replied and we’ve paid the price for that.”

Mr and Mrs Fudge said while they “fully understand” that cemeteries with no room should be blocked to new burials, it has never been confirmed that Christchurch Cemetery is full.

Paul added: “People are going to have the same issue so we’d like to highlight our case to hopefully inform the people of Christchurch of the situation so they can plan ahead, because it’s just not being communicated.”

A BCP Council spokesperson said: “BCP Council took over the management and operation of Christchurch Cemetery in 2019 as part of Local Government Reorganisation. At the time BCP Council assumed responsibility for the management and operation of Christchurch Cemetery the site was very close to full capacity.

“These historical low availability levels of new grave spaces, along with our commitment to pre-purchased plots, means we remain currently unable to accept requests for any new grave purchases for this site.

Christchurch Cemetery (Image: Newsquest)

“Christchurch Cemetery remains open for full burials in previously pre-purchased graves, including the burial of cremated remains and children’s burials.

“Regrettably, the emails sent by Mr & Mrs Fudge in May [2021] and June [2022], enquiring about the purchase of a grave plot were sent to an out-of-date email address and directly to an employee who had left the council many months prior.

“We apologise for the problems they faced when attempting to contact us.”

Despite this explanation from BCP Council, the Echo was shown the email address both enquiries were sent to by the Fudge’s – cemeteryenquiries@bcpcouncil.gov.uk – which is still listed on the council website as the correct email address for such enquiries.

The spokesperson continued: “We understand that this is a popular and much-loved burial site in Christchurch, and although we are unable to offer new full coffin burial plots at this cemetery at present we are able to offer the purchase of a cremated remains grave space to Mr & Mrs Fudge in order to inter the cremated remains of their family member.”