Residents from Penrith and the local area have voiced concerns over developments at Penrith Cemetery with what appear at first to be rows of new steps that have been installed.
On contacting a council officer about the new apparent steps described by one resident as an “eyesore”.
The Contract Officer of the former Eden District Council (now replaced by Westmorland and Furness council on Saturday) said “The structure is not ‘steps’ as such, but a new method in cemetery management.
The ‘steps’ are actually a continuous foundation for the erection of memorials and headstones.
It is a system employed by many other cemeteries throughout the country including Carlisle and Barrow and the benefits of the system are recognised by cemetery managers, visitors and users of the cemetery.”
Benefits the claim the new system create include:
Simpler grave Identification, with all plots will be individually numbered. To makes them easily identifiable to both cemetery staff, stone masons and individuals who have pre-purchased plots. Also to visitors to the cemetery who wish to locate the final resting place of relatives or friends.
Grave Marking, by cemetery staff will be made much more simplistic and accurate. The necessity to manually measure plots frequently in wet & windy conditions at short notice no longer being required.
Memorials, the new system means that headstones will not be required to be removed to allow the re-opening of graves. Again, this is frequently required to be completed at short notice and can be distressing for families of the grave to be re-opened or the families of adjacent graves to gain sufficient access. Costs are also incurred in this process.
Grave Memorabilia will only be allowed on the slabbed area.
The councils contract manager added that “Feedback obtained from stone masons gained prior to the system being implemented is that they are also in favour of the new system as there is no-longer a need for them to insert further concrete foundations to enable the erection of memorials. Memorials erected are also less likely to ‘move’ as is sometimes experienced due to ground settling, as they are now erected on a solid foundation removing a problem which is understandably upsetting to families.
The council also claims that the new system will make grass cutting & strimming will be more efficient, As less time will be required to be employed in strimming around individual memorials. Also reducing the possibility of damage to memorials, flowers.
I understand current concerns regarding the rather ‘stark’ appearance, but I am confident that this effect will gradually fade with time and some possible further landscaping.
The concrete will darken and cover with moss/lichen so that it will blend in with the adjacent grassed areas. I would urge anyone with concerns to visit Carlisle cemetery where the long-term visual effect can be seen.”
One visitor to the cemetery has said “This is how our cemetery is going to look for all future graves, with row after row of steps between our loved ones graves. I am horrified by this, The steps are not in-keeping with the style and beauty of our cemetery.”
Another local resident has said ”I’m equally shocked. It’s hideous and spoils the appearance of the cemetery.”
What are your thoughts on the new concrete steps in Penrith Cemetery and the intended usage as a grave management system?
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