Coun John Kerr demanded work be carried out to address poor quality grass cutting and maintenance at council cemeteries in Warsop, Mansfield Woodhouse and Mansfield.

He spoke out about the issue at a Mansfield District Council meeting last Tuesday and asked mayor Tony Egginton to do more to ease the pain of angry families who have lost loved ones.

"They are hurt and upset at this lack of care by the council," he said. "Can the mayor tell us if this is any way to treat local bereaved families?"

His comments have been backed by Warsop mum Carol Johnston, whose 22-year-old son Craig died in November last year, and is now planning to launch a petition calling for action.

'Awful'

She said the grass on his grave at Warsop Cemetery had not been cut since he had been buried –– which has meant she has had to carry out the work herself.

"I think the maintenance is absolutely awful." she said. "All we ask is to keep it maintained and tidy. A lot of the people I have been talking to have said they will take their lawnmowers up.

"It came as a sudden shock losing my son and it was tragic circumstances and that is all we have left now."

Mansfield mayor Tony Egginton has admitted standards at the cemeteries could be better, but said there had been no proactive planned maintenance at them for the last 30 years.

He told the council meeting: "It is certainly not the right way to treat local bereaved families, who deserve a better service.

"The head of service is aware about the issues relating to the maintenance of cemeteries. We are trying to address years of neglect of no planned maintenance at the cemeteries."

Mr Egginton said a cross-party committee had been set up in May to look at the district's cemeteries and told Chad after the meeting the council planned to use money from selling two lodges in Mansfield Cemetery towards improvements.

He said: "This committee is purely and simply to bring forward these issues and get them resolved in a proper manner. That has got to be classed as progress."

Related letter: Condition of Warsop Cemetery disgraceful

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