JOANNE Asgill is relieved Wagga City Council is "sitting up and taking notice" of residents who were distressed by a controversial cemetery policy to remove personal keepsakes from graves.She was among 1300 people who signed a petition in a bid to stop council from disposing of all non-standard containers, statues, figurines and toys placed on gravesites at the Wagga Lawn Cemetery.Mrs Asgill and hundreds of others upset by the move yesterday welcomed council's decision to not take any action before looking at a report and review on the policy."My family would have been devastated had council not taken any notice of the petition," Mrs Asgill said."This has provided some hope for everyone."Council witnessed a community backlash after sending out 1200 letters to people who have had family members or friends buried in the lawn cemetery during the past five years, notifying them the private mementos would be removed from August 1 - next Monday.The letter stated the presence of bottles, solar lights, statues, figurines and glass vases raised important issues in relation to occupational health and safety, maintenance of graves and aesthetics which must be considered.Fearing special items would be taken from the resting place of her father Bill Williams and a friend's baby, Mrs Asgill put her name to a petition in a last-ditch bid to have the decision overturned.Mrs Asgill and her brother, newsagent Bill Williams, gathered more than 100 signatures between them.Petitions were handed to council last week to be tabled at Monday's July ordinary meeting, where the policy was put on hold.