Ventspils Meža Cemetery Grave Keepers Given Three Years to Tidy Neglected Plots
The Ventspils municipality's grave site commission has declared several plots in Meža Cemetery neglected and marked them with warning signs. Those responsible for them have three years to tidy them, or the plots will be levelled.
In 2026, the grave site commission of the Ventspils municipality inspected Meža Cemetery in Ventspils, Latvia, and declared several graves neglected. The plots have been marked with special warning signs. The decision affects the people responsible for maintaining these graves, who must put them in order to avoid their removal.
The municipality reminds the public that, under Latvia's Cemetery Law, local authorities must monitor the condition of grave sites and promote their upkeep.
What caretakers must do
The person maintaining a grave declared neglected, or someone authorised by them, has three years to tidy it and must contact the cemetery manager. The manager can be reached by phone at 29473591 or via WhatsApp.
What happens if a grave is not tidied
If a grave is not tidied within the set period, it will be levelled. A plot where the last burial took place more than 20 years ago may be offered for reburial.
Help with upkeep
If a grave cannot be tidied by the caretakers themselves, the municipality suggests enlisting helpers or companies offering such services. For example, the company SIA Kapkope provides both one-off and regular grave cleaning; its phone number is 26294050.
The municipality stresses that its aim is not to take graves away but to improve the upkeep of cemeteries.
