00:00Several councils in northeast England have restricted new memorial benches after concerns
00:06some areas have become overcrowded. Hartlepool Borough Council says parts of the town are
00:11overwhelmed and is not currently accepting applications. Similar pauses or limits are
00:17in place in South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Redcurtain, Cleveland. Officials say the decisions
00:24follow reviews of space, maintenance pressures and long-term sustainability. Researcher Dr
00:30Anne Karpf suggests the popularity reflects changing ways of mourning, with fewer people
00:36using traditional religious settings. She says benches can offer a shared public place
00:41for remembrance and celebration of loved ones.
