Council workers drove over graves at a cemetery leading to outrage. An investigation has started and an apology was issued.
The tracks went across several graves. Paul was furious about the damage he found. Workers needed access to another grave plot, and up to four graves had tire tracks.
Swale Borough Council manages the cemetery. The council said they are sorry about it. They stated they started an investigation right away.
Paul’s brother, Mark, died in 1996. Mark had struggled with health problems and was living in Sittingbourne back then. Paul is 59 years old.
The tracks shocked everyone who saw them. Paul thinks a mini digger made the tracks, which are on three or four graves. Seeing this was upsetting to him.
Paul discovered the damage on February 8. He shared photos of it with his sister, who emailed the council three times. The council did not reply to her emails.
Paul made a formal complaint and received an apology on February 12. A council officer said workers needed access to reopen a grave for burial.
The officer apologized for the plot’s condition, stating that contractors had damaged the lawn areas. They will fix the areas with new turf and plan to seed the grass there.
Paul remains upset about the council’s response. He hoped they would fix it quickly, as he thinks the graves deserve respect. He thinks it is shocking.
He hoped workers would be more careful. Paul lives with his partner and son on Trafalgar Drive in Deal. He hopes speaking out will help.
He thinks people agree with him that vehicles should not drive over graves. It’s disrespectful to drive over graves, especially when the other grave wasn’t far away.
The council said contractors use big equipment for digging new graves and cemetery maintenance. Wet weather makes tracks in the grass.
The council apologizes for any upset caused. They try to avoid causing damage and always try to fix the graves. They seed the grass to repair it.
They received the report on February 9 and began to investigate the issue. They started working to fix it quickly. Paul visits Mark’s grave often.