Erfenbach fights for green oases: suggestions for cemetery and Co.!

Erfenbach fights for green oases: suggestions for cemetery and Co.!

On February 7, 2025, Mayor Paul-Peter Götz expressed the urgent wish of the Erfenbacher for improvements in the townscape. The situation in the village is characterized by a growing need for redesigns, especially with regard to the cemetery and surrounding green areas. Gerhard Protung, head of the green spaces, said that the planned redesign of the cemetery depends on the new regulation of the funeral law in Rhineland-Palatinate and an update of the city cemetery statute. A new cemetery statute is currently being developed and is only completed when the requirements of the new funeral system are clear, such as Rheinpfalz.de reports .

Udo Lackmann (SPD) and Gabriele Wollenweber (FWG) reported on the increasingly free, unused green areas and the growing demand for burials in urn walls. A wish for a memoriam garden in which relatives do not have to take over the grave care themselves was also expressed. This shows the needs of the Erfenbacher with regard to a contemporary burial culture. Reiner Kiefhaber (SPD) asked the question of whether animal burials can be realized on free cemetery areas, which indicates the search for new forms of burial.

financial hurdles and ideas for the future

Gerhard Protung mentioned that various ideas are being planned, but the financial means are missing for large solutions. The local advisory board also questioned the repair of two green spaces: the fountain at the intersection of Jahnstraße/Siegelbacher Straße and the green area of the old cemetery in Rotenbergstrasse. Despite the efforts of Götz and his predecessor Reiner Kiefhaber to upgrade the fountain and the surrounding green zone, the success has so far been left out.

Paul-Peter Götz emphasized the importance of the townscape for the Erfenbacher and the impressions that leave them by visitors. Protation showed understanding for the demands of the local advisory board and signaled that short -term improvements through cityscape maintenance and funding programs are possible. However, the financial means for comprehensive solutions remain a critical point that could inhibit further developments.

New funeral law as a foundation for changes

A decisive factor for future design in Rhineland-Palatinate is the recently decided amendment to the funeral law. This not only includes the introduction of new forms of burial, but also the appreciation of soldiers who died abroad. The Minister of Health emphasized that the introduction of burials for "star children" is an important regulation in order to create a place of mourning for affected parents, such as mwg.rlp.de describes in detail .

In addition to these innovations, the law provides for the abolition of the general coffin obligation, the approval of sea levels and the permission to spend the ashes outside of cemeteries. This flexibility should meet the growing need for individual forms of burial and prevent emigration into "burial tourism" abroad.

The funeral system is therefore the focus of the changes in Erfenbach and beyond. While the Erfenbacher hope for improvements, it is necessary that the political and financial framework conditions will be taken into account in order to meet the different needs of the population.

For more information on the funeral regulations in Rhineland-Palatinate, please visit aeternitas.de .