Council responds to cemetery complaints
official capacity as vice-chair of Comrie Community Council.
She told the Herald: “This, however, was a very personal matter to me and my family, and other friends who had also contacted me about the same issue.
“I am delighted that PKC listened to my pleas and have attended to the cemeteries.
“Thank you also to local ward councillors Rhona Brock, Stewart Donaldson and Roz McCall for taking on my plight and helping with negotiations.”
Gill also advised that the local authority has acknowledged there is much more work to be done.
She added: “They hope, however, that the initial work undertaken will alleviate everyone’s angst in these times.”
Harry Thomason, chair of Crieff Community Council, has been appealing to the council to do something about the cemeteries for weeks.
He said: “Following the complaints, council staff got to work at the weekend and tidied up the cemeteries but it shouldn’t have got to this.
“Thank you to the local crew, led by Paul Chapman, for strimming around the gravestones and tidying up Crieff’s cemeteries – both the old one and the new one in Ford Road.
“We know these are testing times but the way things have been done has been despicable.”
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said: “We appreciate there are some concerns about maintenance of cemeteries.
“However, our priority has been to follow the Scottish Government restrictions on activities in order to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
“We have also had to ensure local parks and greenspaces are available and safe for members of the public using them for daily exercise and mental and physical wellbeing.
“We are currently working on trying to increase maintenance as and when the lockdown restrictions are lifted, resources are available and it is safe to do so.
“In the longer term, we will be reviewing what other options may be available to us to ensure our that our cemeteries are maintained to the best standard possible.
“Updates are available on the council website.”
For more information, see www.pkc. gov.uk