Council says little can be done to stop flooding at cemeteries

FAMILIES upset to find their loved ones graves under huge pools of water have been told there is little that can be done to improve drainage at floodhit cemeteries in Nuneaton.

The heartbreaking sight greeted those visiting Attleborough Cemetery in Nuneaton to pay their respects this week.

Rows upon rows of headstones were covered in inches of water, meaning relatives had to wade through it just to get to their loved ones’ memorial.

Many were left distressed by the sight.

It is not the first time that flooding has hit one of the town’s cemeteries recently.

Relatives faced a similar situation when they went to pay their respects at Buckshill cemetery on Mother’s Day.

Council bosses say there has been unprecedented amounts of rainfall recently which is causing the flooding.

We asked Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council what action can be taken in the future to prevent a repeat of the scenario.

But council chiefs have said little can be done.

Phil Richardson, director of governance and recreation, explained that opportunities to improve drainage on both of the sites is ‘extremely limited.’

“Unfortunately there is very little we can do when local watercourses are saturated to the extent we have experienced recently; opportunities to improve the drainage of water are extremely limited,” he said. The high level of continuous rain received over recent weeks is unprecedented and as the ground is at full capacity, there is nowhere for the water to go.

“The part of the site below the road level is particularly affected.”

As for the current situation, Mr Richardson said: “Our inspection teams believe that the water will dissipate very quickly; we will continue to monitor the situation.”