Grieving 94-year-old widower's distress after visits to Vale Cemetery banned during coronavirus outbreak

The man, who is 94, told Luton Today that he was stopped at the gates of the Vale Cemetery last week while on his way to visit his late wife's grave.

The couple were married for over 70 years before her death last year.

He said: "I was in my car at the gates and told them I wouldn't be in close contact with anybody.

"I always go up in my car to her grave a few times a week, and I like to spend a couple of hours there. I even told them I'd stay inside the car, if I could just go up.

"But they still said no. There was a funeral going on and lots of people about...

"It didn't make sense to me. Yes there is a lockdown but other cemeteries are open, I don't know why The Vale has taken it upon itself to be different."

Others have taken to social media to criticise the cemetery's closure.

One woman wrote on Facebook: "This is so unfair, I had to bury my father two weeks ago with no ceremony and now I can't visit his grave. Whenever I go to The Vale I only see one or two people at any one time!"

Another added: "I don't care what LBC says, if I want to go to my son's grave I will. This is absolutely ridiculous, it's not a social place."

In response to these complaints, a Luton Borough Council spokesman stated: "Firstly, and even though this was an instruction from the government, we are sure you will understand that the decision to close Luton’s cemetery grounds was taken with a very heavy heart.

"We entirely appreciate how difficult this will be for some residents, and we sympathise.

"We received clarification on guidance from the Ministry of Justice that all crematoria must now be closed except for funerals. This requirement also includes cemeteries where the crematorium is situated in the cemetery, as is the case at The Vale in Luton.

"The government’s order was made in support of national ‘social distancing’ requirements - that we all stay at least 2 metres apart - and its instruction that we stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.

"With this in mind, it was agreed it had to be sensible for the Rothesay Road cemetery in Luton to also be closed at this time.

"We are working hard to provide and maintain the right levels of service across Luton, to keep everyone safe during these extremely difficult and unprecedented times, and your support is much appreciated."

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