'It's a sorry state' - Eastbourne mum left 'really frustrated' after decorations near her daughter's grave removed
A mum from Eastbourne was shocked to learn decorations near her daughter’s grave were removed by staff at Langney Cemetery.
Monica Corrina-Kavakli’s baby daughter died in 2002 and is buried in the Children’s Garden at the cemetery.
About 10 years ago, the family bought a memorial plaque and vase near what she called ‘the rose arch’.
Monica recalled how the arch was once a ‘beautiful’ covered pathway through the gardens but that the surrounding flowers have since deteriorated, leading people to hang decorations to make spaces ‘look a little prettier in the absence of the flowers’.
She said her mum was ‘visibly upset’ upon visiting the cemetery on Monday (November 2) to see the decorations gone and the overall condition of the gardens.
A staff member at Langney Cemetery told Monica that the decorations had been removed to allow maintenance and gardening to take place but that she could collect them.
She was then told that the area covered by the decorations did not fall under the family’s paid-for memorial plaque and vase and would therefore be removed again if put back.
Monica said the cemetery’s gardens used to be ‘a beautifully peaceful place to be’ when a designated gardening team were responsible for maintaining them.
But she said the conditions have ‘worsened dramatically’ since the COVID-19 pandemic, with many graves ‘unkept’ and grass regularly ‘uncut’ by various contractors employed by Eastbourne Borough Council.
Monica said: “As a family, we have taken it upon ourselves to raise our concerns, and the concerns of other families, with cemetery management, the contractors and even members of the council and yet it has always fallen on deaf ears with nobody willingly taking accountability.”
Some families, including Monica’s, have taken matters into their own hands and done the gardening themselves, fed up of the alleged inaction.
Monica’s three children also regularly visit Langney Cemetery where their late sister rests.
She said: “The cemetery has always been part of their life. They have grown up going down there once a week, going down there at Christmas and birthdays, things like that.
“And they've learned how important the cemetery is, and that it should be something that's looked after and respected because that's the only place they've ever known their sister to be.”
Eastbourne Borough Council has been approached for comment.