DEVASTATED relatives are angry and upset after memorial rose trees and plaques were taken up at Rowley Crematorium.

The plaques and rose trees from the Garden of Remembrance at Rowley Regis Crematorium on Powke Lane have been moved by Sandwell Council.

Michelle Hill was horrified to discover her grandparents plaque is now with scores of others lined up at the front of the plot.

The 53-year-old, of Wesley Avenue, Halesowen, said relatives have to pay £135 every five years to keep the plaques and should have been written to to be informed that they would be taken out.

The mum-of-three and grandmother-of-two, who works as a care assistant, said her sister Louise Cooper went to the crematorium on Thursday (December 3) and discovered the plaque for their grandparents Dorothy Hackett, who died aged 91 in 2010, and Frederick Hackett, who died aged 84 in 2003, had been moved and the tree taken out.

She said the family is upset because the plaque was in the exact spot where their grandparents ashes were scattered - and they now don't know where that is.

Halesowen News:

Sandwell Council said it is "undertaking improvements" to the Garden of Remembrance which included the planting of hundreds of new rose bushes and the resurfacing of pathways.

Michelle said: "I'm so upset - my sister called me in tears.

"It's important to have the tree and plaque at exactly the right spot as that's where the ashes were scattered.

"How are they going to put them back now when they're all lined up.

"It means a lot to people there - I go up every month without fail.

"A lot of people will be upset. They have no right to do it. We want that plaque back in its rightful spot. I can't face going up there until it's put back.

"I accept the trees were dead, but they should have taken them out and put them back in one by one so they are in the right spot.

"Also they said signs were put up, I can't say they weren't, but I never saw a sign and I go there every month. They should have written to relatives - they write to us every five years to pay the £135 so why couldn't they write to us about this?

"I promised my dad when he died I would look after my nan and grandad's plot and now I feel I have let him down.

"Some people only visit on birthdays and Christmas - they go up there to lay Christmas wreaths - they will be in for a horrible shock."

Michelle said the plaques had also been moved back in March - but were replaced after complaints.

A spokesman for Sandwell Council sai: "Our bereavement services team has been undertaking some improvements works in the Garden of Remembrance at Rowley Regis Crematorium.

"This work included renovation of the rose beds which has seen hundreds of new roses planted this year.

"Pathways have also been resurfaced. To allow for this work, it was necessary to place a number of plaques in a safe place still within the garden until the work was completed.

"Notices were in place to inform of the proposed works."

Councillor Wasim Ali, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for resources and core services, said: “We recognised earlier in the year that the Garden of Remembrance at Rowley Regis Crematorium was not at the standard families expect.

"We have been undertaking improvement works throughout the year to ensure the vast majority of the work would be completed before Christmas, which is often a very busy time in our cemeteries and crematoria with many families visiting their loved ones’ final resting place.

“The work we scheduled for this year is now complete, which will mean memorials will be back in place. We sincerely apologise for any upset or inconvenience while the work has been carried out.

“We will be undertaking further work next year which again should see more improvements to the gardens.”