RESIDENTS are being asked to ensure that Christmas tributes and wreaths are removed from graves by February 14.

The move is to allow ongoing maintenance of the cemeteries and crematorium grounds managed by Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Anyone who wishes to dispose of or keep their Christmas tributes should remove them from the cemetery grounds and burial plots by this date. Cemetery staff will then begin to remove any remaining Christmas tributes from Monday, February 17.

The reason for the removal of the tributes is to allow grass cutting to take place from early March.

Wreaths and tributes will be removed from the grounds of:

• Blacon Cemetery / Chester crematorium, Chester

• Overleigh Cemetery, Chester

• Overpool Cemetery, Ellesmere Port

• Neston Cemetery, Neston

• Wharton Cemetery, Winsford

At Chester Crematorium, Christmas tributes and any other memorial items not issued by the council, which have been placed in the Garden of Remembrance areas, and also adjacent to the Book of Remembrance Room, will be removed from Monday, February 17. This is to ensure that these areas can be enjoyed as peaceful areas of contemplation by everyone.

The council’s cabinet member for environment, Councillor Karen Shore, said: “The council understands that the removal of Christmas tributes is extremely sensitive and this is why grave owners and visitors are being given early notice, so that they may remove their own Christmas tribute should they wish.”

The council does not remove wreaths from private church yards.