Hull memorial garden underway after Legacy incident

Hull City Council has revealed that construction has officially started on a memorial garden at Northern Cemetery in Hull to honour those affected by the Legacy Independent Funeral Directors incident. 

The site will feature named plaques, additional seating and bird baths, following changes made after a public consultation earlier this year. Work is expected to be completed by late September. 

A second garden will be built at Lelley Fields Crematorium near Preston in the East Riding, with construction set to begin this month and finish by the end of summer.

Tracy Meyerhoff, director of adult social care at Hull City Council, said: “We wanted to make sure we’d taken on as many views as possible about the designs we proposed earlier this year, and we did receive a good amount of feedback during our consultation.

“Whilst the overall look of the gardens will remain largely the same, that feedback has led to some minor changes. We’re happy to make these suggested additions so that we can make sure that the gardens will be respectful and peaceful settings where ashes of those involved can be laid to rest, including the interment of ashes at the Hull site.”

Angela Dearing, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s recovery lead and director of housing, transportation and public protection, added: “We wrote to the families directly affected by this incident to seek their views ahead of opening up the consultation more widely to residents.

“Drop-in events were held in both Hull and Beverley to make sure that people had a number of ways to tell us what they thought, which included an online survey. With the designs now finalised, we’re pleased that the building work is underway.”

A private ceremony for families to inter ashes at the Northern Cemetery site will take place later this summer.

Next of kin will be offered a named plaque free of charge and will receive a letter outlining the available options and preferred location.