Anger grows over ‘eyesore’ cemetery
Furious Cambuslang residents have taken to Facebook to vent their frustration over the ongoing mess of a graveyard.
Westburn Cemetery in Cambuslang has been facing ongoing problems with vandalism, litter, dog fouling and overgrown grass.
Local resident May Young Breen uploaded several pictures to the Auld Cambuslang Facebook page showing some of the mess.
The post has since had over 30 comments from members of the community over the lack of respect given to the graveyard.
May told the Reformer: “We need to do something about our graveyard, it’s so sad.
“All we need is a lawnmower that lifts the grass.
“People are littering, the bins are overflowing and the public use it as a place to walk their dogs.
“The dogs are peeing on the grave stones. “I’m hoping that a story can get the council to do something. I’m just tired of it all.
“People have been saying the Rutherglen graveyards are in a similar state as well.”
May has contacted South Lanarkshire Council (SLC) to see what can be done about the mess of the graveyard and was told that her information had “been passed on”.
“But I told them it needs more than that,” she told us.
“It’s getting treated like a public park instead of a resting place for loved ones.”
Another resident commenting on Facebook wrote: “The place is an absolute mess, it’s an eyesore when the grass is cut and they don’t pick up the mown grass.
“There’s all sorts being left lying about. Dog owners use it as a park and it’s disgusting and so disrespectful.
“When I pay my respects to mum and dad, it’s as quick as possible so I can get back out again, it’s not a nice place to visit.”
A spokesman for SLC said no reports of vandalism had been received, instead confirming some headstones lay flat as part of work undertaken by memorial masons.
The spokesman told us: “This is a normal and common process and one that can, when observed by members of the public, be mistaken for headstones having been knocked over by vandals.
“As far as dog-fouling is concerned, we know how upsetting this can be to visitors to a cemetery, especially if it is close to a loved one’s grave, both from a hygiene point of view and as a result of the disrespect shown.
“Any incidents such as this can be reported to the Anti-Social Behaviour Team who work with local problem solving groups and who may be able to arrange monitoring of the site.
“Their telephone number is 0800 389 1105.
“In the meantime, we have also asked our environmental wardens to monitor Westburn Cemetery over the next few weeks, so hopefully their presence is noticed and has an effect.”