People warned avoid cemetery after second floods hit site
PEOPLE have been warned not to visit a Derby cemetery because of flooding for the second time in a week.
Last Thursday and Friday, parts of Nottingham Road Cemetery, in Chaddesden, were flooded, leaving some of the paths impassible and the ground waterlogged in parts.
Following overnight rain on Monday, the area is once again affected and in particular there is heavy flooding and standing water where there are new graves. There is also more flooding along paths near the children’s section.
One cemetery worker said he had “never seen it so bad” in the burial ground and added that the bottom end was the worst affected because of the incline of the site, as it drops away toward the A52 side.
Derby City Council has put out a message on social media to stop people making unnecessary journeys to the site. It reads: “Due to the very heavy rainfall, Nottingham Road cemetery is severely waterlogged and some areas are inaccessible. Please only visit the cemetery if it is essential and if driving please use the car park and walk to graves.”
People are allowed to visit burial grounds and cemeteries during the national lockdown and social distancing measures are in place for anyone visiting.
A city council spokesperson said the situation was being investigated.
They said: “In the short term we’re making sure there are no blocked drains or things of that nature creating problems.
“Council officers will be meeting next week to discuss if there is any action we can take to prevent it from happening in the longer term.”
Do you visit the cemetery regularly and have you ever seen this bad before? Email your views to newsdesk@derbytelegraph.co.uk