Fury after council workers damage graves
An investigation is underway and families are demanding answers after a number of memorials at a cemetery were damaged by local authority grave diggers.
Several graves were damaged at Welshpool's Maesgwasted Cemetery by a mini digger driven by Powys County Council staff, who were preparing a grave for a burial.
Families visiting their relatives' graves were shocked to discover the damage, and took to social media to voice their disgust.
Sarah Jones took to Facebook to write: “Just been up to Maesgwasted to my Grandparents grave. Furious and devastated the mess that the gravediggers have made. They could have put boards down or even gone a different way.”
Lucy Morgan found that ground on her gran and grandad's grave had been turned up, and another local resident Dean Gill added: "They have total disregard for everyone and everything up there my dad's grave has been damaged again for the second time.”
Powys and Welshpool councillor Graham Breeze criticised the 'total disregard for people's feelings', and has been informed an investigation is going to take place.
'Disregard'
He said: "I find it hard to understand how this can have happened. There has been a total disregard for people’s property and feelings.
“I was contacted on Sunday and immediately took the matter to the cabinet member Liam Fitzpatrick, who personally called those affected with an apology and a promise of a full investigation. That investigation is ongoing."
He asked anyone whose loved ones graves have been damaged to write to Nigel Brinn, head of service, highways, transportation and recycling at Powys County Council at Spa East Road, Llandrindod, Powys, LD1 5LG.
Councillor Fitzpatrick has lost his cabinet seat in a re-shuffle since being in contact with Councillor Breeze and is no longer responsible for highways.
New cabinet member for highways, councillor Phyl Davies has apologised to the families for the distress the damage has caused, and insisted remedial work will be carried out as soon as possible.
Councillor Davies added: "Regrettably when work was being carried out to prepare a new grave at the Maesgwastyd Cemetery damage occurred to the surrounding area and neighbouring burial plots.
"We sincerely apologise for the damage and the distress it has caused to families.
"An investigation is underway to find out how the damage happened and action taken to avoid similar issues in the future. Grounds staff will carry out remedial work at the site as soon as possible.”
