Distress for grieving families as graves are hit by flooding again
APOLOGY FROM COUNCIL BUT IT CONFIRMS WORK TO IMPROVE DRAINAGE TO BEGIN SOON
HEAVY rain is again causing flooding in parts of a cemetery in Hinckley - to the distress of families whose loved ones are buried there.
Water has been seen pooling on top of graves in the extension of Ashby Road cemetery, near the Big Pit.
The cemetery is managed by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, which is soon to begin works at the site to improve ground drainage in the new part of the cemetery.
Deborah Haines spoke to the Mercury in February after constant problems over the winter months with the paths and burial plots becoming waterlogged, and families struggling to reach the graves of their relatives.
Her mum, Mabel, was buried there in October last year, and just a day after her burial her grave collapsed into a neighbouring plot that was being dug out.
This was quickly repaired but Ms Haines said there were many issues over last winter, with water gathering on top of several graves and streams of water running down the concrete roads within the site.
Ms Haines’ dad visits the cemetery every day and he is greatly distressed to see the flooding is still an issue.
She said: “We’re back to square one.
“It’s exactly the same conditions. “It’s dreadful. There’s many families who weren’t aware of the situation, people who have had their loved ones buried recently.
“They say if they’d have known about this, they would have not buried them there.
“It’s so distressing for people.” A drainage consultant was employed to draw up designs for the works, which will ensure surface water drains away as quickly as possible after heavy rainfall, with the aim of providing better ground conditions all year round.
Stuart Bray, leader of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, said: “We apologise to the families whose loved ones’ graves have been affected by this.
“We’ve been committed to getting these improvements done as soon as possible to prevent the distressing situation with waterlogged ground occurring again. The works will be done carefully and sensitively and access to the graves will be maintained for everyone throughout.”
In a separate project, works have just started on Rugby Road Park in Burbage, to protect the green space from flooding, which will last until spring 2022.