Mourners visiting Hendon Cemetery and Crematorium are confronting a distressing lack of privacy as boundary fences have collapsed, offering direct views from the adjacent Hendon Golf Club. A recent investigation by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) uncovered numerous maintenance issues at the Barnet Council-run graveyard in north London.
Overgrowth and Fallen Trees on Graves
The 42-acre grounds also suffer from extensive overgrowth, with one visit revealing a large tree chopped and left strewn across several burial plots. The cemetery, opened in 1899, is described by the council as “an excellent place for reflection”, providing visitors “with the opportunity to walk in relative peace and quiet”. The crematorium, first added in 1922, completes a site representing the borough’s history and diversity, with dedicated sections for different faiths and parts of the community. The cemetery also has a significant number of graves for those killed in both world wars.
Council Defends Felled Tree Policy
Asked about the fallen tree covering gravestones in one section of the site, a spokesperson for the local authority said: “Felled trees are usually left in place, as this significantly reduces our carbon footprint, and increases our biodiversity, as the trunk rots away and becomes a haven for insects and birds.” Explaining the overall conditions at HCC, including fences left in disrepair, the spokesperson explained: “The council runs a rolling programme of maintenance. We currently have plans to replace the fence at Hendon Cemetery with a hedge, which will be more resistant to high winds, increase biodiversity and significantly reduce maintenance costs. We also have a robust rotation of grass cutting, which started in March and completes towards the end of October or early November.”
Electrical Wiring Systems Delayed
A recently published council report details how the electrical wiring systems at HCC “have come to the end of their serviceable life”. Works to replace these systems, originally meant to have been carried out between March and May, have yet to begin. The plans were approved back in March when Naisha Polaine, the council’s executive director of growth, agreed to sign a contract with SG Building Services Ltd for £219,674, plus VAT, to complete the fixes. Explaining the lack of action, a spokesperson for the local authority said the “works programme has been revised” and is now set to be completed in October. No explanation for the delay was given.
Future Maintenance Plans
Asked about future maintenance and repair works at HCC, the council representative responded, saying: “We have recently completed refurbishment works to the public toilets at both the cemetery entrance and chapel, and have plans to redecorate the chapel complex once electrical works have been completed. The grounds maintenance building is also due to be demolished to create additional burial space. Grave maintenance is the responsibility of the grave owner however we intervene if on-grave planting out grows the grave boundaries and significantly affects adjoining graves.”
