A proposal to stop the sale of memorial benches in Maldon district parks, covering Burnham and the Dengie, will be decided next month.

Residents have previously bought benches to be installed in parks and open spaces owned by Maldon District Council, in tribute to loved ones, but officers have recommended that this be stopped due to difficulties including waiting times and cost issues.

Instead, council officers have recommended a new scheme be introduced where residents can lease a plaque on a bench for five-year periods.

In a report to councillors, officers called the current policy for ownership and maintenance of memorial benches agreed in 2017 "restrictive in terms of availability and financial viability".

It currently costs £1,200 to buy a bench, while the lease of a plaque would be set at £400.

The council receives on average one new request for a bench every week, which officers said they "have no means to accommodate".

They said: "Although the policy states that any memorial, other than headstones, remains the property of Maldon District Council, customers usually see benches as their own property and in several cases have put covers over them, placed plant pots on them and even taken them away to be varnished and repaired, before reinstalling themselves.

"Other members of the public do not feel welcome to use these benches and they become extensions of grave spaces in the cemeteries or personal tribute areas in our parks for the benefit or use of only a select few.

"The current policy states that a bench will be guaranteed for a minimum of five years, but there is no clarification for how long a bench will be in place. If a customer continuously repairs a bench, it could theoretically exist in that space indefinitely.

"In high traffic areas such as current burial areas, Promenade Park or Riverside Park, this means no new customers will get an opportunity to enjoy the memorial scheme.

"This is causing frustration to potential customers who are on a perpetual waiting list."

The officers' report recommends that an improved and centrally-recorded inspection programme for all benches on land owned by the council be created, alongside a supporting database, which would be completed by March.

Any benches which have fallen into disrepair would be removed.

Officers recommend that, from 1 April, residents then be offered the opportunity to lease a plaque on a bench bought and owned by the council.

The lease period would be five years and could be renewed for additional five-year periods at a cost of £125.

If a lease is not renewed, the plaque would be returned or placed on the memorial wall or pergolas at Maldon, Heybridge or Burnham-on-Crouch cemeteries.

Officers said: "Each bench will have space for three plaques which will enable more customers to take advantage of the scheme. This will also reduce costs for customers making it a more affordable option to more people.

"After the five-year period, the bench space can be leased again, and we can begin to build funds to purchase more benches in the district where there is space or a need."

New benches would be made from recycled plastic.

The district council's strategy and resources committee will vote on the officers' recommendations at its meeting on 6 January.