RESTORE SEASONAL OPENING HOURS AT HAMPSTEAD CEMETERY – A LIFELINE FOR OUR COMMUNITY

To: Camden Council and Islington Council (ICCS)
From: Residents, visitors, and friends who frequent Hampstead Cemetery

 
HAMPSTEAD CEMETERY is a vital, peaceful space — AND WE’RE BEING LOCKED OUT.

We, the undersigned, call on Camden Council (as the cemetery's owner) and Islington Council (via ICCS, which manages it) to restore the seasonal opening hours at Hampstead Cemetery that were in place prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This beautiful and historic space is not just a cemetery. For the people of West Hampstead and beyond, it is a lifeline — a calm, safe, accessible green space where residents walk, sit, reflect, and connect with nature.

It’s one of the only flat, nearby outdoor places suitable for elderly residents, disabled individuals, carers, new parents and those with mobility issues. These residents often cannot access Hampstead Heath or other distant, uneven parks.

WHAT WE’RE ASKING FOR:
We respectfully urge Camden and Islington Councils to:

✅ Restore the pre-pandemic seasonal opening hours
✅ Ensure clear signage and consistent gate management across all entrances
✅ Engage with residents, especially elderly and disabled users, through public consultation
✅ Acknowledge Hampstead Cemetery’s unique role in community health, memory, and connection

Help Us Be Heard This is more than a matter of opening hours. It's about respecting the residents who depend on this space — and who have shown their commitment to it, time and time again.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING
Since 2020, Camden Council has enforced uniform opening hours across all borough cemeteries, removing the longer spring/summer hours previously offered at Hampstead Cemetery. This has:

Reduced access for working people and carers who rely on early or late daylight
Ignored the unique needs and demographics of the local community
Been implemented without public consultation or transparency
Camden's own Culture Scrutiny Committee referenced the issue in 2023, yet no meaningful engagement or change has followed. Multiple attempts by residents to contact the council have gone unaddressed.

A COMMUNITY THAT STEPPED UP – NOW BEING SHUT OUT!
During the pandemic, when the council planned to close the cemetery due to staff shortages, local volunteers stepped in — opening and closing the gates daily to keep the space safe and accessible.

Their efforts were praised at the time:
👉 Ham & High: Volunteers saved Hampstead Cemetery from Covid closure - https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/21349053.job-well-done-heartwarming-volunteers-saved-hampstead-cemetery-covid-19-closure/

Today, those same community voices are being ignored. There has been no dialogue, no consultation, and no consideration — despite proven local support and a clear, compassionate case.

WHO’S BEING IGNORED?
This decision disproportionately affects:

Older residents needing flat paths for walking
Disabled residents and wheelchair users
Carers and working people with limited daylight hours
Those seeking peaceful spaces to manage mental and emotional wellbeing
Camden’s “one size fits all” policy completely disregards these realities and treats Hampstead Cemetery — a unique, community-loved location — as identical to all others.

A CONFUSING CONTRADICTION
Camden Council recently spent £100,000+ building a new disabled-accessible toilet at Hampstead Cemetery — a positive investment achieved after years of campaigning by groups such as KOVE. Yet those same individuals now face unnecessarily restricted access.

This contradicts Camden’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2022–2030, which promotes outdoor activity, inclusivity, and better public health — all of which this cemetery directly supports.

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