Visit to grave left me
Fury over eyesore council notices at cemetery
A furious East Kilbride woman has accused South Lanarkshire Council of lacking compassion after her recently deceased mother’s grave was‘staked up’.
The News told last week how the local authority had placed “eyesore” wooden stakes and safety notices on dozens of headstones at Philipshill Cemetery, advising lair owners of stability issues.
The move is part of an ongoing rolling programme of inspections by the council, who insist it has a duty of care to provide a safe environment in its cemeteries.
However, shocked plot owners have hit back, branding the council out of order and disrespectful towards bereaved families.
Bernadette Thomson, 58, from Calderwood, is challenging head of facilities, waste and grounds services, Alistair McKinnon, who maintains it is the responsibility of the plot owners to take care of repairs.
Her mother, Isa Duncan, passed away in June and is buried in the same plot as her father, William, who died in 1995.
“I was horrified to find the gravestone had been staked up,” she told the News.
“I went to the stonemason to get my mum’s name on it and pointed out that the stone was hanging at an angle.
“He explained our grave was in an area liable to subsidence and the foundation stone had probably moved due to this.
“The cost to have this fixed would be around £200 plus the cost of resetting the stone which is £192.”
When Ms Thomson was told it was her responsibility to maintain her parents’ grave, she challenged this, stating that subsidence was outside of an individual’s control.
She added: “When I made a complaint I was told the Scottish Government had brought in new legislation which meant headstones were being checked in all cemeteries and that it was my responsibility to maintain and pay for any repairs to the grave.
“I explained the area was liable to subsidence and that I didn’t feel I should have to pay for the repair. They then said the council would pay for the resetting of the foundation stone but that I would need to have the gravestone reset.
“I went to the cemetery and was disgusted to see more signs on graves.
“Not only that, the notices were placed in a way that covered the name of the person when it could have easily been positioned to the side of the stone. It is absolutely shameful and beggars belief.
“Costs for resetting a gravestone are based on its size and can range