Rye woman isunable to visither son’s grave

ROTHER District Council has been branded a ‘disgrace’ for leaving fallen trees blocking grave plots and memorials at Rye Cemetery.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Apr 2014, 05:14 BST
28/3/14- Jo Clarke at her Grandmother's grave, with the tree that fell on top of it in the background. SUS-140328-17442800128/3/14- Jo Clarke at her Grandmother's grave, with the tree that fell on top of it in the background. SUS-140328-174428001
28/3/14- Jo Clarke at her Grandmother's grave, with the tree that fell on top of it in the background. SUS-140328-174428001

Jo Clark, 75, of Kings Avenue, is unable to access the graves of relatives, including her son, who died when he was five months old.

Trees blew down at the cemetery during the bad weather earlier this year and one tree is actually laying right across her family’s plot.

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Jo raised the issue with Rother more than six weeks ago and has contacted the council on three occasions but says nothing has been done.

Jo, who has lived in Rye all her life, said: “They said they would look into it but nothing has changed.

“This has stopped me from getting to my son’s grave. It is an utter disgrace.

I have spoken to workmen and contacted Rother Council direct. All they have done is remove one branch.

“It is disgraceful. We pay enough for the plots.

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“A relative, who lives in France, cannot believe the state of the cemetery. It would not be allowed to happen in that country.

“They have been chopping trees down on the Salts but they have done nothing at the cemetery. It makes me so angry.

“It is hard to get to plots as the ground is so uneven. It is in a disgusting state.”

A Rother District Council spokesman said: “We are sorry for any inconvenience the fallen trees have caused visitors to Rye cemetery.

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“Contractors have been commissioned to remove the trees and will be carrying out work at the cemetery in the next few days.”

It is not the first time Rother has been at the centre of controversy over Rye Cemetery.

In 2003 there was fury when accused Rother District Council of desecrating graves after pulling down 122 memorial stones at Rye Cemetery.

Some elderly people were left in tears after finding that loved one’s memorials had been uprooted without them being informed.

Related topics:RyeFrance