Families CAN now visit loved ones at Kettering cemetery after u-turn

A Kettering mum who had been prevented from visiting her baby daughter's grave says she is "over the moon" after the decision to close a cemetery was reversed.

As reported by the Northants Telegraph this morning, the burial grounds at the Warren Hill crematorium in Rothwell Road had been closed by Kettering Council who cited Government coronavirus guidelines as their reason.

That left 29-year-old Sophie Briggs heartbroken as she was unable to visit the grave of her daughter Hope, who died 23 hours after being prematurely born in April last year.

She said she didn't know how she would cope if she couldn't visit on the first anniversary of her death next week.

But this evening Kettering Council re-opened the gates to allow families to visit the resting places of their loved ones again, meaning Ms Briggs will now be able to go and visit little Hope

Upon hearing the news an emotional Ms Briggs said: "I am just over the moon.

"I am just so grateful that they have reconsidered their decision."

All other cemeteries in the borough were open but the Warren Hill burial grounds were closed, except for funerals, because there is a crematorium on-site.

Despite the regulations Newcastle City Council re-opened a cemetery with crematorium on-site yesterday after carrying out a risk assessment.

A petition to re-open the Kettering site had attracted more than 450 signaures.

Tonight Kettering Council confirmed they would re-open the Warren Hill site, saying that the Government had reversed their decision.

A spokesman said: "We are therefore able to immediately open up the Warren Hill memorial gardens and burial ground to visitors.

"They will be open from 9am to 6pm daily, all week.

"Visitors will of course be asked to observe normal social distancing rules."