THE exclusive right of burial at High Wycombe Cemetery will be changed from 99 years to 50 years with unlimited renewals, it was confirmed last night.
Wycombe District Council’s Cabinet pushed through a proposal by the High Wycombe Town Committee to amend the burial regulations.
It means an initial 50 year burial period will be introduced with families given the right to extend it in tranches of 15 years, subject to a fee.
Council chiefs once again moved to reassure residents that the plan was to "give families a greater control of their loved ones' graves".
And Cabinet members quashed suggestions the graves would be reused after 50 years as disturbing a grave is illegal without Government consent.
The new regulations will encourage the grave owners to keep in contact with the council to ensure memorials are kept safe and tidy.
Currently, no protection is given to graves after the 99 year period is up.
Cllr Tony Green said: “There is categorically no intention to reuse graves, the intention is to keep families in control of their loved ones' graves for as long as they want them.”
