One foot from the grave
Son’s anger as homes are built just 12in from parents’ resting place
BILL Higgins had always taken comfort from visiting his parents’ graves at a nearby churchyard.
He even paid for a bench so he could sit and take in the farreaching views.
But his enjoyment of the rural landscape was ruined when new houses were built – just one foot from his parents’ headstone.
The boundary of one of the homes leaves barely enough room to crouch by the grave.
Mr Higgins, 64, a retired mechanical engineer, said his parents moved from Bristol to Waters Upton, Shropshire, in the 1970s when it was a ‘ quiet and lovely’ small community.
They were both laid to rest at St Michael’s churchyard in the village in 1997.
The grandfather said: ‘ They chose to be buried there because of the lovely views from the cemetery over the Shropshire hills.
‘But as all the old people in the village have died, the youngsters have come in and it has turned into a building site.
‘ The building work started before Christmas. When I came to lay flowers on the grave I couldn’t believe it, there was a housing estate basically on top of where my mum and dad are buried.’
Mr Higgins, who lives in nearby Wellington60, added: with‘If thehis wife builders Christine,had come any closer with their diggers they might have excavated the grave. Mum and dad loved the rural country life and obviously wanted to rest in peace in a country cemetery overlooking lovely open fields.
‘Now they are resting very near an Morris,World awful War trained buildingand horsesdrove site.’ in workersHis the father,Firstto the Rolls-Royce aircraft engine factory in Bristol in the Second World War. His mother Irene worked in a cigarette factory. Their son asked Waters Upton Parish Council if a hedge could be planted to hide the development but insteada fence because has of beenlack of plannedspace. He believes locals did not realise how close the seven new homes would be to the churchyard. He added: ‘I do feel very sad and upset about it, I don’t like coming to the cemetery any more.’ The developer, Days New Homes, said the plans were approved by Telfordadded that and it Wrekinmade contributionsCouncil and to extend the cemetery. Katrina Baker, of Waters Upton Parish Council, said: ‘We’ve got as part of this development an extension on the cemetery and car parking which has been gratefully accepted by the council. We do understand Bill is concerned.’