A SCHEME allowing memorial benches to be placed in Maldon’s cemeteries and public spaces is set to be suspended – because there are “too many”.

Maldon District Council’s community services committee was expected to vote to suspend sales of memorial benches until November at a meeting on Tuesday night.

There are 38 benches in Maldon Cemetery and more than 45 in Promenade Park.

Richard Holmes, director of customers and community, said in a report: “The purchased bench is guaranteed for five years, but normally last considerably longer.

Officers are of the opinion that there are now too many benches within Maldon Cemetery and they should be managed with more care.

“Continuing to sell benches will lead to over-populating the council’s open spaces with benches which may not be aesthetically pleasing.”

Mr Holmes said the current schemes needed “refreshing and improving”.

He added: “The installation of memorial benches within the council’s open spaces continues to be seen as a fitting memorial to lost ones.

“However, officers felt that a formal policy should be introduced that help define location and numbers of benches that should be allowed in the parks and open spaces.”