A celebratory mood of victory for the Friends of Penrith Cemetery group over controversial flagstones placed in Penrith Cemetery by the council earlier this year creating what has been described as "concrete stairs to heaven," following the council’s confirmation today that it is to remove the flagstones and restore the grass to its original state.
The controversial project, which cost between £7,000 and £8,000, had led to the formation of a group opposed to the concrete flagstones, with a petition demanding their removal.
In July at a meeting at Penrith Cemetery between the council local resident’s, a town councillor and a member of the Evolve Penrith group. Westmorland and Furness Council justified the use of concrete, stating that it would provide stability for memorials and headstones as they expand into new areas of the cemetery.
Additionally, the council claimed that over time, the flagstones would blend in with the surrounding grassed areas as they darken and become covered in moss and lichens.
At the request of Evolve Penrith at the meeting in July, Westmorland and Furness Council agreed to pause any further work to construct additional rows of the concrete flagstones and review the already constructed flagstone rafting’s.
At a meeting at Penrith Town Hall this afternoon the members of the Friends of Penrith Cemetery group were left speechless after the councils Assistant Director of Community Infrastructure and Thriving Communities David Haughian made the announcement that the rafting’s (steps) are to be removed and there will be no future plans to reinstall them.
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