A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER is furious with the city council, as a cemetery has been allowed to become overgrown.
Marion Goodwin, 73, went to visit the grave of her son who died in 1969 due to an early birth, but was saddened to find the state of the Bear Road cemetery, Brighton.
It is the responsibility of Brighton and Hove City Council to maintain the site, which Marion said is vital, as long grasses can cover grave stones and ornaments, making the area risky for people with limited accessibility to navigate.
“Usually it’s mowed regularly, so it’s usually tidy when I go up there, but this time it was really awful,” she said.
“It’s so disrespectful because mainly they’re all babies in that area, babies or young children.
“Some people said it is because of ‘no-mow May’ but it’s not practical in an area like that. It’s dangerous because you can’t see where the dips are and where foxes have dug some of the holes.”
Marion will regularly travel from her home in Peacehaven to the cemetery to maintain the graves of her son, her husband, and her grandson – who all share a plot.
“I’m not the only elderly person that goes up there. I felt quite unsafe walking on that ground; I travelled with three plants to go in the vases – I couldn’t just turn round and go back without even stepping foot on the ground.
“Luckily enough, I always carry a walking stick when I go over there.”
Responding to the situation, a spokesman for the city council said: “We’d like to apologise for the current overgrown state of some areas of our cemeteries.
“Many of our residents have welcomed the move towards allowing the grass to grow in many areas of the city because it is a good way to help the environment.
“But we know that more work needs to be done in our cemeteries to manage grass growth – and we are committed to improving the situation as quickly as we can.
“Like many public and private sector organisations we are currently finding it difficult to fill some vacant posts.”
The city council is seeking to recruit experienced gardeners to work on its Cityparks team, encouraging applications via its website.
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