Mini diggers and heavy machinery are being driven over people’s graves with shocking photos showing tyre tracks at the city cemetery.

The activity is happening regularly at the site in the Coney Hill area of Gloucester because new plots have to be dug for the dead, sparking an emotional debate.

Sharna Andrews, a local mother, had been told that the colourful fence which surrounds her late son’s grave had to be removed as it did not comply with the rules. But city councillors called on council bosses to have a re-think.

And now Councillor Alastair Chambers has said the real reason Gloucester City Council wants such fences removed from people’s graves is because workers drive over them.

He told a council meeting that he had ‘photo after photo of heavy machinery crossing family members’ bodies.’

Tyre track marks pictured at the graveyard in the Coney Hill area of Gloucester

Mini diggers and heavy machinery are being driven over people’s graves

The authority’s deputy leader, Councillor Hannah Norman, confirmed mini diggers need to drive over some of the graves and said therefore graves need a stonemason-approved kerb set

Sharna Andrews pictured with her son Harry-Lee Andrews-Tomlinson who died in February 2022

Sharna Andrews hand-painted a wooden fence in rainbow colours to place around the grave of her late son, Harry-Lee Andrews-Tomlinson who died in February 2022

The 29-year-old said the colourful addition to his resting place at Gloucester Cemeteries and Crematorium helped the family to cope with their loss

‘That is the real reason. Planning and organisation at this crematorium should be in such a way that respect is given to the dead,’ he said.

He also claimed there were several health and safety risks across the site, such as knocked over gravestones, bollards and two-foot deep holes.

‘Metal bollards and reinforced plastic bollards are thrown and littered around,’ he said.

‘There are holes where the bollards have come out some two to three feet deep. Someone could break their ankle.

‘Several of these posts are thrown under benches. And there are even bollards turfed on people’s graves,’ he added.

He said the managers at Gloucester Cemetery and Crematorium agreed the rules were not fit for purpose.

He added: ‘The rules are not fair nor accurate. The excuse from the council is that they (relatives) signed at burial.

‘You’re giving a list of rules and regulations for parents to sign the day they buried their child. And then enforcing these rules by giving them a letter saying if they do not remove them (certain items) in 14 days, their graves will be stripped.’

Council chiefs said the team at the cemetery work to support the bereaved tirelessly. 

Councillor Alastair Chambers claimed there were several health and safety risks across the site, such as knocked over gravestones, bollards and two-foot deep holes

The authority’s deputy leader, Councillor Hannah Norman, confirmed mini diggers need to drive over some of the graves and said therefore graves need a stonemason-approved kerb set.

She said: ‘As the cemetery is not operated on a just-in-time burial process, residents can purchase graves in advance which need to be accessed when a burial needs to be completed.

‘This means the mini digger does have to be moved in short notice to dig or reopen graves.

‘Unfortunately, there is no way to undertake this task without the digger, especially with the hardness of the ground on site.

‘Movement of the digger can mean that graves which do not have a stonemason-approved kerb set can be damaged if they use a different edging.

‘Unfortunately, the grounds team do not have the capacity to move wooden, plastic or metal edgings prior to operating the digger and placing it back afterwards.

‘Use of the digger next to such edging is highly likely to cause damage and cause further upset to the families.

‘This is absolutely something the council is highly motivated to avoid.’

A review of cemetery rules and regulations has been agreed by the council.

A spokesperson for Gloucester City Council told MailOnline: ‘The use of operational equipment to dig graves is in line with national practice and needed to navigate the cemetery site. We would always look for the best access route to dig a grave and sometimes have no choice but to remove items to gain access, this would always be undertaken in as sensitive a manner as possible.

‘We have already committed to undertake a review into the rules and regulations around cemeteries in Gloucester to ensure they still meet best practice. 

‘The current rules and regulations have been in place since August 2014 and are similar to other cemeteries and graveyards around the country. 

‘All families are asked to sign up to these at the time of burial and copies are then sent to them at a later less stressful time to review and retain. ‘