Vehicle driven over memorial stones
ARECKLESS driver who damaged memorial stones at Macclesfield cemetery has been blasted on social media.
A Facebook post shared by more than 400 people showed tyre tracks left by a motorist who carelessly drove over memorial stones placed by families in memory of their loved ones at Macclesfield Cemetery.
Mary Slinn, chief operating officer at Orbitas, the council’s arms-length company responsible for bereavement services, said the damage is a result of a motorist driving around a metal bollard installed to keep cars away from the memorial grounds.
But she has denied that it caused by council staff working in the cemetery.
She said: “It was both very disappointing and upsetting to discover the damage to a grass plot and memorial stones caused by a thoughtless visitor to Macclesfield Cemetery.
“This person appears to have deliberately driven over what is a grassed memorial area to get past a locked post-bollard specifically put in place to keep out visitor vehicles.
“Our dedicated grounds maintenance staff have been working hard, as a priority, to rectify the damage and reinstate the memorial stones. The work was completed on Monday afternoon.
“The thoughtless actions of this visitor have caused upset and distress to bereaved relatives, other visitors and our staff.
“Signs are being put up to remind visitors that cars are only to be driven to and from the clearly marked designated parking and access areas. This sort of vandalism, however unintentional, is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.”
Sue Durham, who was one of the people who shared the post, said she was ‘disgusted’ that anyone would show such disrespect.
She said: “The public are also to blame. We have seen dogs being let off their leads to run amock.
“When it all comes down to it, respect is decreasing in today’s society.”
CLARIFICATION
FOLLOWING our story, ‘Talk brings public talent showcase’ (Express, March 14, page 8).
We’ve been asked to point out that the event at Townlet Street Chapel will not be broadcast live on TED.