Cemetery charges mourners for ‘VIP pass’ to visit dead relatives – to help keep grave ‘safe from unwanted’

They are dead serious about charging mourners money to visit their loved ones.

The owners of a UK cemetery have come under fire for offering paid VIP cards to relatives of those buried there.

The Garden of Remembrance, located in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, says those who do not purchase a permit will only be able to enter the cemetery during opening hours.

“From January 2025, this place will be protected with electric gates. The gates at the front of the site will open and close automatically at certain times,” said a notice posted outside the cemetery.

“Entrance to the cemetery will be with a VIP pass making the site safe for our staff, families and visitors. Please make sure you have your permit in time for the New Year.”

A third note claims the cost is £10 (approx $12) per pass to enter the rose garden and £5 (approx $6) per pass to visit a tomb. It’s unclear if it’s a one-time fee or if pass holders will be charged that amount each time they enter.

A separate notice says non-VIPs can still enter the grounds between 9am and 3pm Monday to Friday.

“Please note that there will be no access on weekends, holidays, or any other date when the office is closed,” the announcement states. “Thank you for the cooperation”.

The grieving families contested the decision, saying that the owners have lost the (burial) plot.

“Now I have to pay a membership fee to visit my father’s grave,” wrote Jode Bourne, whose father Mark Bourne is buried on the grounds, on Facebook. “This is an absolute disgrace. Shame on you Garden of Remembrance.”

However, cemetery owner Jason Taft hit back, telling a local newspaper that he has spent £8,000 (roughly $10,000) on security and technological upgrades to keep the cemetery safe.

VIP passes are believed to function as key cards that will open gates providing access to the site.

“There are 1,300 graves out there and we couldn’t send out that many keys so people can come and get a card if they want one,” Taft said. “We are not locking people out and this gives them access to the cemetery until 9pm when we would normally be closed.”

“People can know it’s safe when they’re visiting and they’ll be safe from unwanted people coming in now. Key cards won’t come into effect until January 1 because people wouldn’t be happy if we would do it before Christmas.

Taft distributed 90 free passes to the most vulnerable members of the community who have relatives buried in the cemetery.