Bodies to be dug-up at Troon Cemetery

Bodies will have to be exhumed at a second cemetery over another water ingress issue.

Troon Cemetery will undergo the exact same painstaking water removal works that were confirmed in Ayr.

The burial grounds’ extension was probed last month after leaks were spotted by relatives.

Bosses have now confirmed they will be following the‘same process’as Ayr which will involve removing memorials and moving the deceased to a facility.

The council refused to confirm how many of the 39 graves contained at the extension were affected.

Troon families were told the heartbreaking news via a letter that mirrors the letter which devastated Ayr families received.

The Post has seen the letter sent to Troon families that details the grim process should families opt to have their loved ones removed.

In a letter it tells how Ayr will take precedence before Troon, with distraught relatives having to wait at least four months before their loved ones’Troon graves are looked at.

The distressing letter details that loved ones will be placed in a “standard coffin”before they are reburied.

Mourners have been given until Friday to decide if they want their loved ones to be removed from what was supposed to be their final resting place.

Families were given the opportunity to meet cemetery chiefs at the town’s Walker Hall on Monday.

Troon councillor Philip Saxton has called for an investigation into the issue at both burial grounds.

The Labour politician said:“Families in Troon are devastated that they will have to see their loved ones removed from their resting place. I hope that the council discusses everything with the families face to face and there is some sort of bereavement counsellor or minister provided to them. I’ll take up anyone’s concerns but it’s a private matter between families and the local authority.

“I certainly understand that people will be frustrated and angry.

“I’d certainly have questions to ask if it was my family, there will be a lot of questions and these families deserve answers.

“We should call for some sort of investigation, someone is obviously responsible for this.”

A council spokesperson said:“We know that this has been an extremely distressing time for families and lair owners and we have been in regular contact with those from Troon and will continue to liaise with them directly throughout.

“We anticipate that the chambers in Troon cemetery extension will have similar issues to those at Ayr, and no more burials are taking place.

“The works on Troon cemetery extension will follow the same process as Ayr and will commence when the works in Ayr are complete.”.