Council urged to take action and tackle mess at historic cemetery
ANGER is growing over the state of a historic cemetery.
Grieving relatives paying their respects to loved ones at Abbey Cemetery, in Elderslie, have complained it is littered with broken gravestone, piles of rubbish and overgrown greenery.
Elizabeth Thompson regularly visits to honour a number of relatives who are buried at the site but she has been left “disgusted” by the mess.
She said: “I am just appalled by the state of the place.
“I’ve been to a lot of graveyards around the country and they are all lovely but this one certainly isn’t.
“It’s an absolute insult to all the people who are buried there.”
Mrs Thompson, of Birch Crescent, Johnstone, has grandparents, aunts and uncles buried at Abbey Cemetery, which dates back to the 19th century.
She said that, while she understands many people in their final resting place may no longer have living relatives to visit, more should be done to keep the site looking neat and tidy.
Mrs Thompson had planned to instal a new plaque on her grandparents’ resting place but is now reconsidering due to the mess she has encountered.
She said: “What is the point in looking after your relatives’ grave when the cemetery is being left to rot? It just shows a complete lack of respect for the dead.”
The site has previously suffered when it was targeted by louts who sprayed graffiti on the walls, outbuildings and war memorial back in 2007.
A spokesman for Renfrewshire Council said the local authority ‘recognises the importance of a cemetery’s appearance’.
He added: “We work hard to ensure they are suitably maintained, added to £1million of improvement works being invested in Renfrewshire cemeteries.
“We have not received complaints about Abbey Cemetery but will investigate the concerns of vandalism raised by the resident and address them.”