Rest in peace? Building site just metres from Shropshire graves

It was an idyllic rural cemetery where Bill Higgins would look over the surrounding hills and remember his parents. But a new housing estate has left him dismayed as one of the homes is being built only metres from his parents’ resting place

The housing development, which is made up of seven homes, is being built next to Waters Upton Cemetery, and Mr Higgins has described it as “disgusting”.

His pleas for a bush to be planted to screen the cemetery from the new homes have also fallen on deaf ears, with a fence planned instead.

Mr Higgins said his parents, Irene and Morris, would be “very upset” at the development.

He said: “It’s absolutely disgusting, I can’t think of the words to describe it. They wanted to rest in peace, not next to a building site.”

The developers behind the homes, Days New Homes, say that the plans were backed by Telford & Wrekin Council and that they have made contributions to improve the cemetery.

Mr Higgins' parents wanted to be buried in rural Waters Upton Cemetery after they retired to the country, and Mr Higgins was “disgusted” when he saw that not only was the country view now blocked with houses but one was built facing his parents’ grave just metres away.

The 64-year-old from Wellington bought a bench and placed it in the cemetery to sit and look out at the views of fields in the distance, but now cannot see them.

The retired engineer said: “My mum and dad lived in Bristol but my dad was born in Shropshire and said he wanted to come back to Shropshire to retire. When they came back in the 70s it was a quiet village, but now it’s turned into a building site.

“It’s absolutely disgusting, I can’t think of the words to describe it. They wanted to rest in peace, not next to a building site.

“I come down here and enjoy the peace and quiet. Originally I asked for the house to be torn down, then I asked for a bush to be planted to hide the house, not that it could completely hide it. When I come to see the grave in the future all I’m going to see is people having their dinner in the house.

“I do try to help the community in every way I can. It feels like it’s me against the council. I do feel very sad and upset about it, I don’t like coming in any more.

“It ruins the cemetery, really. My parents would be very upset if they were alive now.”

A spokesman for Days New Homes Ltd, Alan Day, said: “The scheme is being constructed strictly in accordance with the planning permission granted by Telford & Wrekin Council. Included within it is an extension to the cemetery itself along with appropriate landscaping provided in consultation with the local parish council.

“There will also be the provision of designated safe parking adjacent to the new extension for the sole use of visitors to the cemetery.”

Katrina Baker, clerk to Waters Upton Parish Council, said: “We’ve got as part of this development an extension on the cemetery and car parking which has been gratefully accepted by the council and the houses came as part of the deal.

“We do understand Bill is concerned. A fence will go up which is being provided by the developer. The reason they haven’t been able to go with a hedge is because of the closeness to the graves.”