SO many grieving relatives want to put memorial benches in a South Yorkshire cemetery there could soon be no room for mourners, a councillor has warned.
A growing trend for placing memorial benches next to gravestones in Treeton Cemetery has prompted the warning from Parish councillor Dennis Whysall.
He said: "We are making a rod for our own backs because if this goes on, in 10 years time there will not be enough room for people to visit graves because of all the benches.
"I have nothing against benches but they should be on the walkways and not next to graves. It seems to be the thing now to have a memorial bench next to a grave as well as a headstone."
Parish council chairman John Swift added: "The benches are taking over the cemetery - what will we do if everyone wants one?"
What do you think? Post your comments below.Parish councillors were told that for the last 50 years there were just three benches in the cemetery in Wood Lane. In the last few months the number has risen to 10.
The councillors are now planning to ask for advice from Rotherham Council after receiving further requests from people wanting to place memorial benches in the cemetery.
Rotherham Council said it was keeping an eye on the situation in cemeteries across the town as the popularity of memorial benches continues to grow.
A spokesman said: "We welcome memorial benches in our cemeteries as they provide a place for people to sit and so are a valuable facility for visitors.
"But we do have to be careful where the benches are sited and make sure that there are not too many in one particular location, but if this was an issue we would look to find a suitable alternative site."
There has also been a boom in the number of people wanting to put memorial benches at some of Rotherham's leisure spots, such as country parks and fishing venues.
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