Yahoo News Cemetery under fire for 'disrespecting the dead' after 'failed experiment' leads to 'wholesale neglect'
A cemetery where nearly 170 soldiers from both World Wars are buried has been left in a state of disrepair due to a 'failed' council initiative, a local councillor has claimed.
Dukes Street Cemetery, in Southport, has been subject to a 'wilding' policy aimed at promoting biodiversity, however Liberal Democrat councillor Dr John Pugh argues it has resulted in 'wholesale neglect'.
The scheme, introduced a few years ago, was intended to create areas for wild flowers and wildlife while maintaining a respectful environment. However, Cllr Pugh believes it has failed and needs re-examination, particularly in the month of remembrance, and is 'disrespecting the dead'.
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He stated: "In this month, known for remembrance, pressure is mounting to review and reverse the Sefton Council policy of turning parts of cemeteries into wildflower meadows.
"Unless the situation is addressed soon it will be irrecoverable. Council officers to be fair recognise that things haven't panned out as planned but my guess is that serious money is needed to restore the "wild " areas to an acceptable condition."
Situated near Southport town centre on the A5267, Duke Street cemetery was opened in 1866 and is the oldest cemetery in Sefton, the Local Democracy Service reports It includes a memorial commemorating those who died in the First and Second World Wars as well as graves of fallen soldiers. The newer part of the cemetery is also home to a baby memorial garden opened in the mid 1990s.
Cllr Pugh, who was MP for Southport from 2001 until 2017, said he acknowledged the difficulties in maintaining such a huge site and said Sefton Council were doing good work at Dukes Street Cemetery. However, the elected representative has called on the local authority to change its 'wilding' policy at the cemetery and points out there are many graves now 'inaccessible and overgrown', with sycamores and other trees taking root.
The Liberal Democrat leader added: "Not only does it show disrespect to the dead and their relatives, but people do not seem to appreciate how much of Southport's history is buried in Duke Street."
"I would invite people to study my video and come to their own conclusions, but my thinking is that action is needed now. The sycamore and nature in general does not take a day off."
Councillor Peter Harvey, cabinet member with responsibility for cemeteries said the local authority was trying to balance support for biodiversity and being respectful, thorough maintenance of the cemetery, and said: "Achieving this balance has been discussed over the autumn and plans are in place to cut back wild areas to ensure our aims are achieved."
"The work will take place as part of winter maintenance, which will enable growth to start again in the spring of 2025."
