Marlborough mother fights council to expand daughters grave

Scarlett Black, from Marlborough, buried her two children at Marlborough Cemetery just weeks ago in an adult plot of land that she bought.

The 30-year-old mother has now asked for an extra 60cm of space for memorial decoration around the headstone, but her pleas have been rejected by Marlborough Town Council.

Her daughter Millie-Grace was stillborn and cremated in June 2021. Her second daughter, Carmen, died aged only 13 weeks on June 22 this year and has been buried with Millie-Grace's ashes in a four-foot coffin at the cemetery.

Scarlett Black has been battling town council restrictions while also grieving her two children (Image: Scarlett Black)

Despite being near the corner of the graveyard surrounded by other decorated graves, Scarlett was told she had to get the town council's approval for the headstone design.

She said she was told that she couldn't have any lights or more than a few small ornaments for her children.

The grieving mother was only made aware of these restrictions two days before burying her children.

"I first saw it on a website days before. Then three days after burying my children a letter came asking me to sign an agreement to only have a headstone and no ornaments that extend beyond 30cm around the headstone, even though I had paid for the whole plot" she told the Gazette and Herald.

“All I want is to create a special memorial space where my two older children and I can remember them.

“I'm asking for an expansion to 61cm by 120cm on the plot that I paid for, but they've point-blank refused, saying people might need access.

"I don't want people walking over my daughters. It's had a massive effect on my whole family, especially for one of my children who has autism and doesn't understand why she can't be close to her sisters.

"I would understand if no one in the graveyard had a bigger headstone or decoration but that's not the case."

Scarlett is grieving the life of Millie-Grace and newborn Carmen (pictured) (Image: Scarlett Black)

Marlborough Town Council has stated that they are working with Scarlett to come to an arrangement.

A spokesperson said: “We are fully aware of the sensitive nature of this situation and offer our deepest condolences to Mrs Black and her family at this very difficult time. 

"Mrs Black provided the Town Council with details of her proposals to memorialise her daughters' grave and these proposals were discussed in-house with our regulations in mind. 

"We looked at ways in which we could accommodate her wishes whilst still being mindful of other families who have loved ones buried in the same cemetery, who also have to adhere to the rules and regulations.

"We have worked hard with Mrs Black to accommodate her wishes even though they go against some of our rules and regulations and would really like to find a way to resolve this situation satisfactorily for all involved.

"A meeting has been arranged with Mrs Black and we look forward to a resolution on this matter”.

Scarlett's other children have struggled to feel close to their siblings with a restricted memorial space (Image: Scarlett Black)

Scarlett is now continuing to petition for changes to graveyard restrictions to help other families in the same situation. Her petition currently has 291 signatures at the time of writing.

“This predicament is not unique to me. Many other families in Marlborough are faced with the same restrictions," she said.

"My children never got to live a proper life, I should at least be allowed to celebrate them as much as I want to in death."

To view and sign the petition, visit change.org/p/expand-grave-space-restrictions-for-two-infants-in-marlborough-wiltshire.