A devastated mother has criticised Dundee City Council for demanding she scales back graveside tributes to her twin son and daughter.
Alana Fraser’s children Savannah-Rose and Saul Fraser passed away in her and their father Mark’s arms at just seven years old at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh in March last year.
The youngsters had succumbed to the incurable genetic disorder infantile Batten disease after a five-year battle.
They were laid to rest at Barnhill Cemetery and their graves are adorned with tributes from the family.
However, Mrs Fraser has been told she needs to get rid of some of the items to come in line with the council’s policy leaving her “angry and upset.”
She said, “My children are buried at Barnhill and I’ve just had a meeting with one of the head persons at the cemetery and they want me to remove the tributes back to the headstone.
“Some of the tributes, especially to kids, go over headstones and they want me to get rid of them.”RefusedHowever, Mrs Fraser has refused the request and said she is not alone in rejecting the rules.
“I’ve refused, as a parent, to do that but they say it has caused a problem for the gardeners and opening up the plots for burying new people,” she added.
“I just feel absolutely angry and upset and I know one other family has already not done it.
“They were even saying that putting a balloon down as a mark of respect is not acceptable.
“He (the council worker) pointed to a balloon in the cemetery and said ‘That’s not really allowed.’
“I think this is going too far. He says it is not Barnhill alone that this is happening to it is other cemeteries in Dundee too.”
A city council spokeswoman said it would still allow “small” items to be laid by graves but there should not be too many.
“Small personal items can be placed on graves as a tribute,” she said.
“However, numbers and sizes should be kept within moderation.”