Son hits out at 'disgraceful state' of Hawkhead Cemetery in Paisley

Desmond Barr says he is horrified at the neglect of Hawkhead Cemetery, where his mum, dad and other family members are buried.

After hearing concerns raised by other visitors to the Renfrewshire Council-owned burial grounds, he is hoping to set up a group called Friends of Hawkhead Cemetery to act on their behalf and take up issues they want to be raised with the council.

The 61-year-old said: "We're certainly not criticising the cemetery staff because there are so few of them and they are fighting a losing battle trying to keep the cemetery tidy.

"The state the cemetery is in just now is disrespectful to the people who are buried there – they may be gone, but they are certainly not forgotten.

"It is a place that brings many emotions to the surface, but the last thing people should feel is anger, disappointment, or disgust at the neglected and untidy state of the final resting place of their departed family."

Desmond, who is a newsagent in Paisley, believes the local authority should take immediate action on repairing the potholes on roads, repair and clean crumbling pathways that are covered in moss, clear piles of dead leaves, and cut the grass more often.

He is also calling on the council to deal with the issue of families not being informed about the toppling over of gravestones under Scottish Government regulations and tell people what is to happen to the gravestones that have been left lying flat on the ground.

He added: "Sadly, the cemetery looks extremely neglected and even vandalised the way the council has gone about toppling headstones because they say they are following Scottish Government guidelines and headstones are in a dangerous state.

"Everyone buried at Hawkhead was once part of the community and was dearly loved by family and friends. The state of the cemetery doesn't reflect this.

"I regularly visit my mum and dad's grave and people I talk to who are also visiting the cemetery are all saying the same thing – that it's in a disgraceful state and something needs to be done about it.

"One lady said to me that her mum was very house proud and always kept her home meticulously neat and tidy and her mum would be affronted to think that her final resting place was in such a state.

"I want the council to make the cemetery a more presentable and proper place where we can remember and pay our respects to our relatives who have passed on.

"My idea is that a Friends of Hawkhead Cemetery group would find out what concerns people have, what improvements are needed, then make representations to Renfrewshire Council and campaign to get something done.

"If there are enough people interested, then I would be willing to take the next steps in setting up the group and organise a meeting to bring everyone together."

Anyone interested is being asked to email Desmond at friendsofhawkheadcemetery@gmail.com.

A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: "We are very mindful of the importance of our cemeteries to local communities and are committed to providing a welcoming and respectful environment for visitors.

"Inspections are carried out on a regular basis, and we aim to ensure any issues not picked up by our ongoing maintenance are dealt with as soon as we can. An additional £100k of investment is already planned for local cemeteries over the next year.

"We already successfully work with a wide range of community groups across Renfrewshire who have an interest in particular parks or locations and would be happy to talk to any group or individuals who are interested in helping us improve Hawkhead Cemetery.

"In terms of some gravestones being laid flat, this is required under Scottish Government guidance to ensure the safety of visitors and staff. While it isn't possible to contact every lair holder in advance of inspections, we encourage them to contact us to make sure their memorials meet the safety standards."