Grieving families have been left devastated by the closure of Newcastle’s West Road cemetery during the coronavirus crisis.
Relatives have warned that being unable to visit their loved ones buried at the cemetery in the coming weeks, and perhaps months, because of social distancing restrictions could have a damaging impact on people’s mental health.
Bev Irving, whose son Lee was murdered in 2015, called the shutdown "disgraceful" and questioned why a space as open as the cemetery had to be closed as part of stricter measures to slow the spread of the virus.
Newcastle City Council announced the closure on Tuesday morning and said it had no choice but to make the cemetery off-limits under new government restrictions on crematoriums during the pandemic, other than for funerals.
Ms Irving, who visits her son's grave several times a week, said: "Why punish people who visit their loved ones? It's totally wide open space and for people who visit daily and routinely this could have a massive impact on their mental health.
"It should be left open for people who could visit as a part of daily essential exercise.
"Every couple of days I call in. It's disgraceful, this."
The 46-year-old, from West Denton, added: "When you do your shopping it's crowded and you stand in a daily queue to get in the places. The cemetery is a huge open space where, unfortunately, people like me don't have a choice to go for comfort."
Liam Sweeney, one of the Newcastle United fans killed in the MH17 tragedy in 2014, is also buried at the cemetery.
His dad, Barry, said the closure would be difficult for many families but that he had expected some kind of restrictions to be imposed at the cemetery, which he visits regularly.
Mr Sweeney said: “Every time I go to a funeral there I go and see Liam, and other times I just like to go and have a craic on with him about the football.”
He added: “It is one of those things, but it is unfortunate that they have had to do this – especially for people who pop up there to see someone all the time.”
While the West Road Cemetery is shut until further notice, all other cemeteries in the city remain open as usual.
A Newcastle City Council spokesperson said: “The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that Section 5 (8) of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 requires those responsible for crematoria to close them except for funerals.
“This includes a cemetery if the crematorium is situated in the grounds (as it is at West Road) which could then only be open for burials.
“The council recognises the closure of West Road will be upsetting for the families of loved ones who are remembered within it and who will be unable to visit. We will reopen to the public just as soon as the restrictions are lifted by the Ministry of Justice.
“All other cemeteries in the city remain open, subject to visitors following strict government guidance on social distancing – that is being only with members of the same household and at least two metres apart from other visitors.”
