Memorial support for families

Floral tributes and memorials have become a more popular way of marking loss in recent years and the local authority has now released plans of how it will help families affected while keeping roads safe and clean.

Under the plans, the council will work with families to ensure memorials are safely sited and removed after eight weeks, with loved ones being invited to keep precious and special items.

Families will also be able to mark annual anniversaries for up to two weeks each year, giving people an opportunity to mark their loss should they wish to.

Dudley Council will work closely with family liaison officers to support those affected, including those who have existing memorials in place.

Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for public realm, said:

Losing a loved one in any situation is heart-breaking and my heart goes out to anyone who has lost someone they love because of a tragic accident.

We understand that some families affected by such awful loss will wish to have tributes and memorials at roadside locations and we are here to support them in this.

There are occasions where roadside memorials can present risks to highway users and can also pose a health risk if left for long periods of time.

There are occasions where roadside memorials can present risks to highway users and can also pose a health risk if left for long periods of time.

We have made new plans to work with families to sensitively clear sites after eight weeks and give families the opportunity to be able to lay tributes for two weeks each year to mark anniversaries if this is their wish to do so.”