DECISIONS on memorials for loved ones are always going to be a sensitive subject.

So residents’ shock at proposals from Maldon District Council which could have stopped flowers being placed on benches is not surprising.

But when the Standard questioned them on the plans, which had been published online, they denied they ever intended to ban people.

The council now claims the policy is aimed at making sure dead flowers and wreaths left for months are removed.

So was it simply a very badly worded aspect of the policy?

Our role as your newspaper is to hold the council to account.

This begs the question: Would the policy have been passed without another thought without our inquiries?

Families with memorial benches and trees deserved to be treated with dignity and allowed to mark anniversaries how they see fit.

If there were never any plans to ban flowers, why was a report allowed to be published?

Again the council has denied what’s written in black and white.