Spokesperson warns against people 'dumping' loved ones' ashes in Portchester Crematorium gardens
There are piles of ashes in a crematorium’s gardens - which have been dumped by members of the public.
Mourners have been dumping the ashes of their loved ones in the gardens of a crematorium - without getting permission to do so.
Over the past few days, The News has been sent photographs that show piles of ashes in the gardens of Portchester Crematorium in Upper Cornaway Lane, Fareham. These ashes have simply been poured over the ground, as opposed to being scattered or buried.
Initially, residents had voiced concerns that it was staff at the crematorium who were dumping these ashes. The venue is managed by the Portchester Crematorium Joint Committee, a group of councillors representing the city of Portsmouth and the boroughs of Fareham, Havant and Gosport.
Operating as an independent establishment, it has established by the crematorium that people have in fact been bringing ashes of their loved ones and simply tipping them out into the gardens. To scatter ashes in the gardens, mourners are supposed to make an appointment.
One mourner at the crematorium, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I saw quite a few piles of ashes as I walked through the crematorium. One of the mounds was quite close to where one of my loved ones is buried.
“Crematoriums are supposed to be dignified places, where the dead are treated with respect - whoever dumped these ashes here has done the complete opposite of that.”
A spokesperson for the Portchester Crematorium Joint Committee said: “The pictures appear to show the scattering of ashes in the gardens by a member of the public without the permission of the crematorium, which is very regrettable.
“Scattering of ashes when managed by the crematorium, and not by members of the public doing it themselves, is done in a respectful and dignified manner by creating a hollow in the ground for the ashes to be loosely scattered in before being covered over. Crematorium staff are mindful of people visiting their loved ones in the same locations, so the ashes are never left visible.
“The crematorium's regulations don’t permit people to scatter ashes without an appointment.
“Occasionally when ashes become disturbed, perhaps as a result of wild animals that dig in the borders of the gardens, action is taken to immediately return the ashes and fill in any hole.
“The award-winning gardens are a natural open space and we can’t control the wildlife they attract.”