Outrage over 'disrespectful' state of Horsham cemetery

Visitors to Hills Cemetery, Guildford Road, in Horsham are furious at the district council’s “terrible upkeep” of its grounds, as images show overgrowth towering over headstones.

A woman from Horsham, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “We took my mum over to the cemetery on Sunday to visit my Dad's grave. He has been there for 23 years and back then it was a beautiful setting and that is why we chose there.

“Unfortunately, over the last few years the upkeep has been terrible by Horsham District Council.

READ MORE: Heartbreak after Adur and Worthing graveyards overgrown

“We go over regularly to maintain my Dad's plot as we like it to look nice, however, I have never seen it as bad as it is now.

“It is not only very upsetting to see when going to visit a loved one, but it is also very disrespectful to the deceased.

The cemetery has been taken over by overgrowth (Image: Carole Peters)

“It is also like this as you enter the cemetery gates which really doesn't give a very good impression for anyone attending a funeral or someone looking to lay a loved one to rest.

“We pay enough in council tax and it's a disgrace to be neglected as it is.

Carole Peters, from Billingshurst, said: “As soon as you go through the gates, all that greets you is long grass and weeds.

“It's so disrespectful. I know there are a lot of graves that people can't attend but we manage to get there every two weeks.

“My husband has cut grass around some of the graves as it is hard to see it just growing wild.

“People pay a lot of money for the headstones.”

Multiple graves are swamped by overgrowth (Image: Contributor)

A spokeswoman for Horsham District Council said: “We fully appreciate that Hills Cemetery is a special and sensitive place for respectful reflection and are very sorry that some individuals feel upset about certain areas of the site.

“We do everything we can to manage the site to the best standards carrying out a regular fortnightly cutting regime which includes trimming around specific gravestones.

“Some areas in the oldest part of the cemetery, where most of the graves date back to between 1900-1920 are not mown as regularly.

Some people have taken matters into their own hands and cut the overgrowth themselves (Image: Carole Peters)

“This area has historically been left as a wildflower meadow for many years as very few graves are visited in this area.

“We will continue to monitor the situation.”

Hill Cemetery is not the only graveyard to have been overtaken by foliage, with people complaining about the state of Hove Park cemetery.

One woman told The Argus: "The cemetery has been neglected for a number of years, it’s a hazard to visit and is dangerous.”

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: "Our contractors will be visiting the site to make sure there is full access to every single grave.

“We absolutely understand how important it is for people to be able to visit their loved one’s graves to pay their respects and for our cemeteries to be fully accessible.”