Further agony and wait for grieving families
Grieving families will have to wait until at least June to discover the fate of their loved ones’graves at Ayr Cemetery.
The Post can reveal that relatives face another agonising wait to know if water has leaked into their loved ones’final resting places.
A letter seen by us tells of another grim month of tests that will take place, with council chiefs hopeful they will have a solution to the‘water ingress’crisis by next month. In the latest letter sent by South Ayrshire Council to frustrated lair owners, a date of June 13 is set as the earliest stage grave inspectors will find a solution to prevent further water leaks.
Relatives have been told that graves are being sprayed with a watering system designed to replicate continuous rainfall over an eight-hour period.
The letter also details how the probe was delayed due to specific materials not being available. The letter, sent on April 22, reads: “Once tests are complete and we have a preferred solution we will arrange an appropriate time during the week of May 9 where families can view this system and ask any questions. We have also been in discussions with Peter Mitchell Associates, as we develop a programme of works to implement a solution following the successful conclusion of the testing process. Whilst testing and future programmes continue development, the earliest date this will commence is June 13 2022. We hope we can move forward with a solution in June which will give some sort of peace of mind to families.”
One relative, Suzann McKenzie, who has her son’s dad James McGarrie buried there says the letter has done little to allay concerns and added: :“I phoned the number at the bottom of the letter five times because it raised more questions than answers and no one picked up.
“Every time we get these letters it just gives us all a headache. We just want to know when they will be taking the water out.”
The council said it had regularly kept in contact with lair holders and had nothing to add to the letter issued to families.