Glasgow cemetery to be closed nightly after antisocial behaviour

Glasgow City Council workers will close Lambhill Cemetery every night, after "years" of vandalism and tragic incidents.

Councillor Robert Mooney, who campaigned for the change, said: "For a few years now there have been problems with cars getting into the cemetery and being burnt out.

"Last year a young man lost his life on a quad bike in the cemetery.

"The local community have been asking for the main gate to be closed at night for some time now and I’m pleased to say that the council are now listening to the community."

As the Glasgow Times reported in June last year, a 36-year-old man tragically died after his quad bike crashed into a headstone in the North Glasgow cemetery. 

Balmore Road entrance to Lambhill Cemetery (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

Graves at Lambhill Cemetery (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

Several fires have also been reported over the years.

In December 2022, a van was set alight in the graveyard, which the police treated as deliberate.

A white van was destroyed by flames and one concerned member of the public claimed that remains of the vehicle had been left to frost over for three days.

A year earlier, another wreckage of a vehicle was left at the scene after being torched and was not cleared for almost a month.

Pictures show the extent of the vandalism.

Burnt van abandoned at Lambhill Cemetery, December 2021 (Image: Colin Mearns, Newsquest)

At the start of 2021, a serious car fire caused significant damage to the graves and grounds.

Registration plates and an alternator were found at the site of the blaze. 

Local councillor Jaqueline McLaren said at the time: "This obscene act of vandalism within our cemetery, a place of remembrance, is simply devastating for the families affected."

These images were taken at the scene.

Rubble at Lambhill Cemetery, after a car fire, January 2021 (Image: Newsquest)

Rubble at Lambhull Cemetery, after a car fire, January 2021 (Image: Newsquest)

Other incidents of antisocial behaviour have also been reported.

In January 2020, Police Scotland told the Glasgow Times it was working to crack down on antisocial behaviour in St Kentigern’s Cemetery, right next to Lambhill graveyard.

This came after a mourner complained about drug-taking in the area.

A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: “We are finalising plans to close the gates on a daily basis at Lambhill Cemetery, St Kentigern’s Cemetery and Western Necropolis.

“Signage that provides further detail on new arrangements will be posted locally and we are aiming to have these measures in place in the next few weeks.

“We appreciate restricting access may cause inconvenience to those visiting memorials but the anti-social behaviour routinely experienced in these cemeteries has been appalling.”