A man who was denied the plot he reserved near his mother says there is “no ill feeling” towards the cemetery after the disagreement was resolved.

Craig Symons, 35, expressed his relief that Westmill Woodland Burial Ground realised they had made an administrative mistake.

He had been told that, despite paying for the plot, a change in policy meant he could no longer be guaranteed the space next to his mum in accordance with her final wishes.

Craig Symons, 35, wished to be buried with with his mum, Linda (Image: Craig Symons)

Having realised their error, the natural burial ground’s director Liz Rothschild visited Craig personally to apologise and finalise the reservation paperwork.

He said: “It was upsetting. I got upset. She was upset. It was just such a relief. 

“It was nice for them to actually turn up on my property and I could genuinely tell she was proper upset.”

When Craig’s mum, Linda, passed away, his dad and later Craig himself reserved spots next to her grave.The entrance to Westmill Woodland Burial Ground, near Watchfield Credit: Thomas Kelsey

Craig previously said: “I am not going to deny I am an absolute mum’s boy and was the closest person to my mum. I looked after my mum for the last two years of her terminal illness. 

“It’s everything that we are buried together. My mum passed knowing that we would all be together. My mum really wanted this for me, and I want to be with my mum.”

Westmill then said a policy change meant they would no longer be able to guarantee spots for next-generation burials - for children of people already buried.

On Thursday, August 22, Westmill found that Craig’s father had been issued an invoice, which they admitted amounted to an “assurance” of the plot next to his mum for Craig.

The invoice had been issued by the burial ground manager, who was unaware that its policy on next-generation burials was under review.Liz Rothschild, pictured for the Advertiser in 2017, director of Westmill Woodland Burial Ground Credit: Thomas Kelsey

Craig said: “I feel that it is possible that she hasn’t seen the mistake - I think they should have looked into it first before the Adver got in contact, but I have not got any issues with them.”

Westmill’s director, Liz Rothschild, previously said: “We as directors, who didn't know anything about this invoice, have now got to hold our hands up and apologise unreservedly because the situation is completely different from the one we thought we were in.”

The policy was under review because Westmill realised that it would run out of space in around five years and would not have the space to bury next-generation relations, who could be buried in decades.