Cemetery verges being wrecked by cars

Opposition councillors are calling on Wigan Council to continue work at a cemetery to prevent careless drivers churning up the verges.
Coun George Fairhurst is calling on Wigan Council to do more to deter selfish drivers wrecking verges at Gidlow Cemetery and to stop anti-social behaviour thereCoun George Fairhurst is calling on Wigan Council to do more to deter selfish drivers wrecking verges at Gidlow Cemetery and to stop anti-social behaviour there
Coun George Fairhurst is calling on Wigan Council to do more to deter selfish drivers wrecking verges at Gidlow Cemetery and to stop anti-social behaviour there

Standish independents Couns George and Debbie Fairhurst say a trial project at Gidlow Cemetery to stop deep ruts being created in the grass needs urgently finishing.

Following an outcry last year tree stumps and large stones were installed along the roads in the burial grounds as vehicles mounting the kerbs meant several areas, including some close to gravestones, were badly damaged.

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However, not all the paths have been lined with protective objects and it is feared the problems are creeping back again. Residents are now being urged to stop driving along the grass verges, with ward councillors describing it as disrespectful.

Coun George Fairhurst said: “People were making a right mess. Since then the council has put some stones in and also installed some tree stumps and it is stopping them. However, there’s still a problem with people driving on and the grass and damaging graves. To me that’s not on.

“We’re saying more needs to be done. As soon as the council has enough tree stumps or rocks it needs to put them all round the cemetery to stop this.

“People should be more considerate, some of what’s going on there is absolutely ridiculous.

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“At the end of the day it’s a cemetery, people are going there visiting friends and relations’ graves and the area should be treated with respect.”

Councillors have previously criticised drivers for continuing to make progress along the verges rather than stopping and waiting for other vehicles or pedestrians to pass.

Visitors have also been urged to leave their cars at the top and walk to the plots if they are able to do so.

Wigan Council said installing the rocks and stumps along some of the paths was a pilot scheme and it is currently assessing how useful it has been before deciding whether or not to continue with it.

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Andrew Bond, bereavement services manager, said: “After feedback from residents we have been trialling a scheme to stop people parking by putting decorative rocks along the verges. We have been monitoring the impact of this and if successful it will be rolled out across the site.”