COUNCIL chiefs are considering making major changes to the way a York cemetery is run.

People whose loved ones' ashes are in the cremated remains section of Dringhouses Cemetery, will be asked how they would most like the site to be maintained.

In recent years, relatives have added miniature fences and decorative loose stone chippings to some plots in this area of the cemetery, in tribute to their departed loved ones.

The added details have proved an obstacle for council employees maintaining the grass around these plots, meaning that a decision has to be taken on how best to conserve them.

Coun Andrew Waller, City of York Council's executive member for environment and sustainability, said: "We don't want to have areas of the cemetery looking uncared for, so we need to decide what to do with the cremated remains section.

"If relatives want to keep the fences and chippings, as long as they agree to tend the grass at the site themselves, then that would be fine."

According to Coun Waller, the loose chippings also pose a health and safety risk to council staff trimming and cultivating the grass with machinery such as lawnmowers and strimmers.

He said relatives would be given plenty of time to consider the various options open to them, which are: maintaining the areas themselves; a standardised extension to the plot with an agreed perimeter edging; the use of chippings being prohibited; or the complete removal of all additions to the plots.

Coun Waller said that when the council originally established the cremated remains area, planners did not envisage relatives creating these additions, meaning that space was not allocated for them.

In tackling the issue by direct consultation with the relatives, Coun Waller said the extreme sensitivity of the matter was paramount.

"The council is anxious not to cause any upset or distress to people visiting the plots, so by consulting them first, we can avoid giving them a surprise when they next pay a visit to the cemetery," he said.

Coun Waller added that it was the council's duty to ensure the whole of Dringhouses Cemetery was maintained to the highest standard, particularly in terms of grass cutting and the removal of litter, dead flowers and wilted wreaths.

Updated: 10:37 Monday, November 08, 2004