IMPROVEMENT work in Studley could be put at risk if a public meeting is held on new cemetery rules.
As the Standard reported last week, residents have called for a full parish meeting to reverse the decision by Studley Parish Council to stop people from placing solar lights, glass items, scarves and other items on graves.
But although the council is legally obliged to hold the meeting, it has warned it would have to be funded through the council tax residents pay to the parish council which could mean less money to spend on projects in the village.
And even if residents vote to change the rules at the meeting, it is not necessarily legally binding on the council.
Councillors will be discussing options for the meeting at their next parish council meeting on Tuesday, October 21 which will include the potential for a poll to be held.
Karen Brown, who has organised a petition which over 400 people have signed, branded the cost claim a scare tactic to put residents off from wanting a meeting.
“They do not want to face the public and they are going to try anything they can in order not to.”
She warned if the decision to change the rules was not overturned, it could cost parish councillors their seats at the next election.
Jeff Kenner, Labour parliamentary candidate for Stratford and who is supporting the campaign, said residents in the village had a democratic right to request a meeting to air their views.
“The cost will be relatively small and democracy should not be denied in this instance.”
