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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Jessica Black

Lisburn council-run cemeteries ban flags and political emblems from graves

Flags and political emblems will be banned from graves under new regulations for Lisburn and Castlereagh Council -run cemeteries.

The rules, which passed at an Environmental Services Committee meeting on Wednesday, have also placed a ban on balloons.

The erection of flags on council graveyard grounds, and tying balloons to graves, trees or benches are covered by the regulations.

An earlier council policy prohibiting astro turf on grave plots will continue.

Under the policy, astro turf will be removed from existing plots before they are sown with grass seeds.

DUP councillor Jonathan Craig said the turf ban could cause the bereaved added grief.

He added: “A lot of people used it because they felt their beds were not being maintained properly and they put this stuff down. To start removing that and come in with a big stick, you’re going to upset families.”

A council representative said astro turf could be a liability when graves sank but the fake grass made the ground appear level, and this had caused several “incidents”.

She said the council was working with every plot owner affected, and fewer than 100 plots were laid with astro turf.

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