Glasgow man 'disgusted' at fly-tipping in local cemetery

This week, the Glasgow Times is running a series on the upkeep of graveyards in the city.

David Montguire, 37, has expressed his outrage at a local dumping ground in Sandymount Cemetery in the East End of the city, where members of his family members are laid to rest.

He said: "There are cooker hoods, cardboard boxes, garden waste, slabs dumped.

“And as you go further down, there are fridges and piles of car tyres.

“There isn’t so much litter but people just dump things there.

“And this is right at the entrance."

David Montguire at Sandymount Cemetery, Glasgow (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

The Tollcross resident visits the resting place around once a month and said the issue has been noticeable for around two years.

He added: “It leaves you disgusted. Fly-tipping is a huge issue in Glasgow but there are locations where people can dispose of items properly.

“To do it in a cemetery of all places is just disrespectful."

The East End local also noticed dog walkers on the grounds, allowing the pets to pee.

He said: “The amount of dog walkers as well, that are in this cemetery is absolutely crazy.

“I know there is no rule against a dog being in a cemetery but to go in and leave dog waste discarded, it’s atrocious.

“It's supposed to be a sacred place.

“There is a park nearby.

“I have witnessed a dog urinating over a grave as the owner is just walking by. It’s not a respectable thing.

“Owners often just walk away as if they didn’t see it.

“I wouldn’t take a dog to a cemetery to walk it."

David also claims the general upkeep of the graveyard is also not up to standard.

He said: "It's a shambles.

“There are graves totally sunken down, some are laid flat because they are unstable. It’s a health and safety issue.

“There are headstones knocked over, lying face down on the footpath.

“You’ve got to drive around them a little bit.

“We were told the issue is basically the budget.

“It’s not looked after as good as it should be.

“I don’t know how it doesn’t happen. There are other cemeteries in Glasgow you can go to and you will not see any of this sort.

“Obviously, I am especially interested because I have family buried there but even if I didn’t, a graveyard is supposed to be a place that is respected and looked after."

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A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: "Failing to pick up after a dog in your care is blatant anti-social behaviour.

“Everyone knows you must pick after your dog and so we fully share the frustration expressed by the local resident.

“Dog fouling incidents can be reported to us and that can help us target resources to deal with the issue.

“Fly-tipping incidents in Sandymount Cemetery are responded to promptly.

“The maintenance of headstones is a matter for the family who erected the memorial and own the adjacent burial plot.

“Where owners cannot be identified or contacted, headstones will be laid down for safety reasons.”