Jacqui Rae, who lives in Moodiesburn, has hit out at North Lanarkshire Council over its decision to remove permanent staff from Bedlay Cemetery.
The 43-year-old, who has family members buried in the cemetery, said: “The caretakers are being taken away from that cemetery.
“Everyone that’s got loved ones in there, we’re going to have to go down and maintain the cemetery on our own to make sure it’s kept to the standard it should be.
“It’s so disrespectful.”
Jacqui continued: “I’m disgusted. Absolutely disgusted.
“It’s not just the fact I’ve got family members in there.
“This is a miner’s village, the miners that lost their lives in the Auchingeich Disaster got laid to rest in Bedlay Cemetery, there are war heroes in that cemetery as well.
“I feel as if the council have disrespected everybody in this village and every single loved one that’s in that cemetery has been disrespected with this decision.
“It’s disgraceful.”
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A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council said the cemetery has been closed to new lairs for several years, reducing the need for expert grave-digging staff who will work at Bedlay and other cemeteries as needed.
They also confirmed maintenance will be monitored weekly.
Jacqui, who grew up in the village, organised a meeting with local residents to discuss the council’s decision at the end of July.
She said it had a “great turnout” with many people expressing their “sheer disgust” at the plans.
She said: “I wasn’t expecting it to have as many people as it actually did.
“I was really taken aback.
“The big hall in the Auchengeich Miner’s Club was full with angry residents because we’ve had enough.”
Concerns were also raised that the main gate would be closed restricting vehicle access, however the spokesperson confirmed it would remain open at all times.
Cllr Greg Lennon, who attended the residents’ meeting last month, launched a petition on Change.org on behalf of residents calling for the council to reconsider their decision and retain experienced cemetery staff, saying “the cemetery’s current conditions demonstrate a concerning lack of upkeep”.
So far, it has gained more than 1750 signatures.
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He said: “Bedlay Cemetery is an integral part of our communities.
“For years, we’ve seen maintenance at the cemetery scaled back due to so-called ‘budget constraints,’ with the long-awaited extension delayed.
“When compared to other cemeteries in the authority, the difference is significant.
“The local community has rightly voiced their frustrations to me and asked that I start a petition to demonstrate the strength of their feelings.
“The response has been overwhelming – launched on Thursday [August 1] afternoon, the petition reached over 1000 signatures by Friday morning, in less than 20 hours.
“The situation with the cemetery reflects a broader sentiment about the lack of investment in infrastructure, amenities, and local maintenance.
“Residents now realise that the Labour Administration and North Lanarkshire Council’s growth strategies have neglected our villages for far too long, especially as we’ve seen a significant population increase from new housing developments without the necessary investment to support it.
“The people of Moodiesburn have had enough, and I can’t disagree with them.”
A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council said: “Bedlay Cemetery has been closed for new lairs for several years, but internments still take place in existing lairs.
“As a result, the need for expert grave digging staff has reduced, so staff now work at Bedlay and other cemeteries as required.
“Our cemeteries team includes a specialised asset maintenance team which carries out memorial safety and grounds maintenance, including grass cutting, across all our cemeteries with supervisors monitoring maintenance weekly to ensure high standards.
“The council respects the history and significance of Bedlay Cemetery and the concerns of residents.
“We can assure residents that Bedlay will continue to receive the same level of interment services and maintenance care it always has and that all our cemeteries receive.
“We will listen to the community’s feedback as we continue to evaluate and improve our services.
“The main gate at Bedlay, which allows vehicle access, will remain open at all times.
“Families can visit their loved ones’ graves at any time, and we are committed to ensuring that all visitors, including those with mobility issues, can easily access the cemetery.”
You can view the petition at Change.org/BedlayCemetery.
