A row has erupted between grieving families and a local council after priceless keepsakes were chucked away.

Old Catton Parish Council believe it has done nothing wrong and that the rules are clearly stated, but some believe they were not given a chance to remove items before they were put in the bin.  

One of the people affected was Kerrie Smith, 46, from Sprowston who has three family members' graves in the cemetery in St Faith's Road.  

Eastern Daily Press: Kerrie and daughter Abbie wondered what happened to their mum/nanny when they saw the grave was strippedKerrie and daughter Abbie wondered what happened to their mum/nanny when they saw the grave was stripped (Image: Kerrie Smith)

She said: “I go twice a month to visit the graves of my grandad, who has been in the cemetery for 10 years, my uncle who died in early 2021 and my mother who died just before Christmas of 2021.  

“I keep the graves clean and tidy; I clean my grandad and uncle's headstones but my mum doesn’t currently have a headstone so I was told it would be okay to have flowerpots on her grave until the headstone arrived.” 

But when Kerrie and her daughter Abbie Smith, 19, went to tend the grave on Wednesday (August 30) they were shocked to see it had been stripped. 

Kerrie said: “I was utterly inconsolable.  

“My mum was only 69 when she died so I was not ready to lose her, but I would buy her £50 worth of flowers and change them over and talk to her, it was in some way like still having her here.  

“But they stripped her grave without warning me and it feels so unfair.” 

Eastern Daily Press: Kerrie used to spend £50 on flowers twice a month to keep her mums grave looking nice Kerrie used to spend £50 on flowers twice a month to keep her mums grave looking nice (Image: Kerrie Smith)

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Kerrie then went to check her grandad's and uncle's graves to find them in the same state.  

She said: “The parish council said they sent out letters in May to warn us, but I didn’t get anything.  

“I know it is against the rules to have ornaments and flowerpots on them, I hold my hands up, but some warning so I could have kept them would have been nice.  

“But it’s never been a problem before, it’s also in the rules that you cannot have fake flowers, but they left fake flowers on lots of the graves.” 

Eastern Daily Press: Kerrie was inconsiderable after finding all her sentimental items had been thrown awayKerrie was inconsiderable after finding all her sentimental items had been thrown away (Image: Kerrie Smith)

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Another person affected by the council's decision to remove personal items was Maz Riches who had a lot of sentimental items on her dad's grave, including a Norwich City gnome.  

She said: “I spoke to Gail [Howes, administration officer] at the parish council to find out what happened and if they were stolen.

"She said they were out the back in bin liners.  

“They wanted me to root through bin bags full of other people’s things – it's disgusting.

Eastern Daily Press: Maz Riches had many sentimental items on her dads grave Maz Riches had many sentimental items on her dads grave (Image: Maz Riches)

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“They told me that they do a yearly clean up, but I have spoken to people who have had things up there for years and they’ve never been taken.”  

And Maz cannot see any harm in having things on graves.  

She added: “It’s a lovely place and when you walk around and see things on people’s graves you think ‘that is a lovely touch’.

"It’s a place I like to go and sit and watch the planes go by and talk to my dad.  

“They’ve just gone about it all wrong.”  

Eastern Daily Press: Maz Riches was told she could go through the bin bags to find her dads belongings Maz Riches was told she could go through the bin bags to find her dads belongings (Image: Maz Riches)

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A petition has even been started by the people who have been affected, calling to have the rules changed.

But the parish council stands by its actions.  

An Old Catton Parish Council spokeswoman said: “Clearance of prohibited items is carried out annually.   

“One month’s notice of the annual clearance is given to all plot holders via a letter which includes an extract of terms and conditions.   

“There is also a sign at the cemetery that states that pots, vases and planted flowers/shrubs are not allowed and will be removed.

“The parish council has acted in accordance with these terms and conditions.” 

  • Additional reporting by Charlotte Houldey