Claim Falkirk Council has neglected Denny Old Cemetery

The lockdown forced workmen who were repairing gravestones and felling trees to stop before the job was finished.

But an angry resident says the beautiful old graveyard has been neglected for too long and should never have been allowed to get into such a state of disrepair.

Paul Gray, who has a family plot in the cemetery, is also angry that debris was not cleaned up at the end of every shift – meaning the mess will now be there for weeks on end.

When Mr Gray visited just before Mother’s Day, he found his own family plot covered in branches, broken mementos and urns from other plots.He said: “To me, this is desecration. It’s lying like an absolute tip.

“This should have been cleaned up at the end of every shift – it should not be left for family members to see. The place looks like a bomb has hit it.

“It’s a disgrace and anybody you speak to will tell you that. I was speaking to an old lady who was crying – she was distraught with it.”

Mr Gray had complained to Falkirk Council several times over the last few months – long before the virus took hold – about the state of the graveyard.

He said: “They are filling potholes with old road scrapings and they think this is ok?

“Paths are being washed away and edgings are falling apart, and all we hear is that there is a lack of budget.

“It’s a beautiful cemetery and it has been neglected for too long now. I don’t think it’s enough to just blame budget cuts all the time.”

Workmen had been repairing headstones following measures put in place after an eight-year-old boy was killed as he was playing in a cemetery in Glasgow, when a gravestone fell on him.

Mr Gray is also unhappy that the work has included cutting down 20-30 trees, which the council says are pushing over gravestones.

He said: “It makes you wonder if they’ll cut the trees down that are left just because it’s easier for them, for their budget.”

Councillor Paul Garner, who is the environment spokesman with responsibility for bereavement services, says the work will resume as soon as possible.

Mr Garner, who is also from Denny and has family connections to the cemetery, said: “We do note the current condition of this cemetery and recognise this needs attention.

“However, by way of background, an essential tree contract works has been taking place at this site.

“Following government guidance relating to Covid-19 this was called off site during the start of the lockdown and critically before the contract was finished.

“All major essential felling works were complete, however we accept, as does the contractor, that there are outstanding reinstatement and tidying up tasks needed on the site.

“This is not possible under the current lockdown conditions.

“Our grounds maintenance functions are not taking place in this or other Council cemeteries currently, but will resume as soon as possible, as our focus is on essential works at a time of increased service demand.

“I thank the public for their patience and understanding during these worrying times.”

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