A CONCERNED pensioner said he is 'appalled' at the condition of Melcombe Regis Cemetery after discovering his dad's gravestone had been 'kicked over'.
Ian Newton, aged 74, has blasted the condition of the churchyard site in Newstead Road, Weymouth after raising concerns it is overgrown after visiting the graves of his parents.
Due to ill health and the coronavirus pandemic, Mr Newton, from Yeovil, has not been able to visit the site in over a year and a half.
He said: "Unfortunately I've not been to down to visit my parents graves for just over a year due to not being allowed to drive due to health issues.
"I've now been allowed to drive and decided to visit my parents graves in Melcombe Regis cemetery in Weymouth.
"I'm appalled to see the state of the cemetery - the grass was so high you could not see most of the headstones.
"We were unable to find my mother's grave because of the state.
"My father's headstone and grandparents had been kicked over as well."
The cemetery, which is maintained by Weymouth Town Council, is a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI).
"What I want to see is the council to show some respect for everyone who has family buried in this graveyard," said Mr Newton.
"The relatives of these people do deserve the right to visit and show their respects - as the graves were paid for by them.
"The council need to get your act together and look after it - if your family are buried there, would you like it?"
A spokesman from the council's parks and gardens management, said: "Headstones are the responsibility of the family.
"Weymouth Town Council is actively improving the way it manages open spaces as they are essential for biodiversity, providing food and habitat for wildlife.
"This becomes increasingly important in the context of the ongoing biodiversity decline in the UK, in which 41 per cent species are declining and one in 10 is threatened with extinction.
"The grass in the lawn area where the most recent graves are positioned is cut, however, Melcombe Cemetery is a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) and has a number of notable wildflower species - such as Cuckooflower and we're trying to preserve and enhance these.
"We're leaving areas of grass longer to allow wildflowers to thrive and supply nectar to pollinators, such as bees and butterflies.
"Long grass also provides habitat for a range of wildlife from insects, such as grasshoppers, to small mammals including voles and shrews."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel