Please sign this petition calling on Renfrewshire Council to halt their programme of toppling headstones in Renfrewshire cemeteries under the Scottish Government’s regulations.

There are alternative ways of dealing with this issue.

My parents, along with countless other loved ones, rest in peace within the sacred grounds of Hawkhead Cemetery. Recently, a decision to lay flat the headstones has been met with widespread anger and disappointment among relatives and friends who visit their dearly departed. This act shows no respect for how these memorials are dealt with.

The issue has sparked much debate across Renfrewshire. Many feel that this action disregards our cultural norms and traditions surrounding death and remembrance. The Friends of Hawkhead Cemetery group have proposed several alternatives to this approach, but so far, these suggestions have fallen on deaf ears within the Council.

It is important to note that Cemeteries are not just a place to bury our dead, they are also places for us to remember and honour them. In fact, visiting gravesites can play an essential role in the grieving process by providing a physical space for remembering our loved ones.

By laying flat headstones in Renfrewshire Cemeteries, we risk losing an integral part of our mourning process whilst also disrespecting those who rest there.

We call upon Renfrewshire Council to reconsider their decision on laying flat headstones in all Renfrewshire Cemeteries. We urge the Council to engage more openly with Friends of Hawkhead Cemetery about alternative solutions that show more respect for our deceased loved one’s memory.

Please sign this petition if you believe in preserving dignity and respect within our final resting places.