Cemeteries to shut again
TWO Merthyr Tydfil cemeteries will be closed to vehicles at night because of anti-social behaviour and damage.
The council is considering preventing access to Cefn Coed and Pant cemeteries for vehicles at night because of anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping incidents as well.
A stolen vehicle smashed into a garden of rest causing thousands of pounds’ worth of damage to memorials in February 2020 at the Cefn Cemetery.
The council report said that as a result of previous efficiency savings, cemetery gates throughout the county borough have been left open.
It said that since cemetery gates have been left open “there have been numerous public concerns raised through various channels, eg local councillor representation, derogatory comments on social media, as well as receipt of a petition with over 500 signatures requesting that the gates be locked at night.”
The report added that in recent months complaints have increased due to various issues.
These include anti-social behaviour, a stolen vehicle smashing into the garden of rest at Cefn Cemetery causing thousands of pounds’ worth of damage to memorials, and also an increase in fly tipping within cemetery grounds.
The proposal is that a budget is made available for a security company to lock the gates to the cemeteries at night.
The gates at Pant Cemetery are not working fully at the moment so a bollard at each entrance will be put up at night to stop vehicles entering until the gates can be repaired.
Under the plans, from October 1 to March 31 they will open at 8pm and close at 5pm, and from April 1 to September 30 they will open at 8am and close at 8pm.
The cost of bringing in the security company is set to be £22,380 a year plus VAT.
The council did consider getting its own cemetery staff to lock the gates but this was deemed unfeasible due to staff being based at one cemetery and due to operational requirements and capacity to cover leave
Ward members for Bedlinog and Merthyr Vale have confirmed that they want their cemeteries at Graig Fargoed and Aberfan respectively to remain open.
Treharris ward members would like to consult the public before deciding whether or not to close Beechgrove Cemetery at night.
Councillor Declan Sammon, who represents Dowlais and Pant, said: “I have been working with David (Cllr David Hughes) and residents on this issue since 2016 when a terrible act of vandalism was reported to me. We had taken it upon ourselves to lock the gates but we believed this issue needed to be sorted through official channels.”