The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Grieving families take action to clean up cemetery.
COWDENBEATH: Families take matters into their own hands to help clean up town graveyard
Grieving families sick of the “disrespectful” state of a Fife graveyard have taken matters into their own hands.
Community members held a day of action at Beath Cemetery in Cowdenbeath, picking up litter and sweeping leaves and debris from the paths and roads.
The move followed months of complaints about potholes, dog mess, litter, overflowing bins and uncut grass at the Fife Council-run cemetery.
Local woman Margaret Davidson, whose baby daughter Angela is buried there, last year described the graveyard’s condition as “disgraceful, disrespectful and downright heartbreaking”.
She was one of several people to raise concerns.
While matters have begun to improve following a number of meetings between bereavement services staff and the community, local councillor Darren Watt said people were extremely upset the situation had deteriorated so badly to begin with.
“The grass had got to an unmanageable length, hedges weren’t maintained properly, paths hadn’t been swept and the bins were another big issue,” he said.
“I had been trying to get something done for ages and ended up having to go right to the chief executive.”
The Conservative councillor said he was extremely grateful to residents and visitors for their patience and understanding on the matter.
“This has been a very emotional and upsetting time for many and I have worked closely with them and council officers to address a number of concerns and issues.
“It is very apparent a great deal of work has recently been undertaken by Fife Council and I’d like to thank them for their efforts.”
Sunday’s day of action is expected to be the first of many at Beath but Mr Watt made it clear the group would be working alongside council staff in a bid to continue the improvements at the cemetery.
“We’re certainly not doing their job, simply complementing their efforts,” he said.
“We are very positive as we go forward and we will be hosting more action days before the end of the year.”
Fife Council senior manager Alan Paul said: “We have been working hard with the local community and those who use the cemetery to improve maintenance of the cemetery.
“I’d like to thank the local community who have been playing their part and helping keep the area litter free, pulling weeds, and planting flowers.”
“This has been a very emotional and upsetting time for many. COUNCILLOR DARREN WATT