East Ayrshire Council leader Douglas Reid has acknowledged that maintenance standards at some of the authority's cemeteries have slipped, as councillors called for greater community involvement in looking after burial grounds.
Council Leader Admits Failings
Speaking at a council meeting, Reid said: "I am pleased to see some work in cemetery expansion in Cumnock. I think there's been issues in terms of cemetery maintenance across the authority. Members always draw this to my attention and I know that officers are working hard to address that."
He added: "Hands up, we've maybe taken my eye off the ball in terms of some of the cemetery maintenance but I know that the new acting chief executive and his team are busy. We'll be certainly addressing that because that is one area we need to have the highest of standards."
Councillors React
Labour group leader Barry Douglas welcomed the admission, noting that his inbox had been busy with complaints about cemetery conditions. "I'm pleased to hear his comments. I know my inbox has been busy when it comes to the issues around some of our cemeteries," he said.
He emphasised the importance of maintaining burial grounds: "Remember in particular, that a number of our cemeteries we have graves where people are coming to visit and it's important to see best possible cemeteries here in East Ayrshire. They must be better maintained to a high standard and there's a lot of work to do. We must always respect those who have passed."
Positive Example and Community Involvement
Councillor Jim Todd offered a positive note, recounting a meeting with a Dutch couple who visited Grassyards Cemetery while researching a relative who helped a British airman during the Second World War. The visitors commented on how well the cemetery looked.
Todd suggested involving the voluntary sector in caring for older burial grounds: "It might be an idea to involve the voluntary sector to adopt some of our graveyards, especially the older ones, and maybe have friends of that cemetery."
