Council blasted over 'disgraceful' state of overgrown Rothwell cemetery

North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) was blasted after grass and weeds at the Loddington Road burial grounds were left to grow to almost the height of some headstones.

Grass was so long that there were no clear walkways to some plots and some graves were barely visible, with reports of families even taking gardening equipment to tidy up areas themselves.

NNC said that the grass was last cut on June 20, with another cut planned for this week, and that a wet winter and spring followed by ‘optimum growth conditions’ left it longer than usual. Maintenance workers were spotted at the site cutting grass this morning (July 2), hours after the Northants Telegraph ran a story highlighting the issue.

Cllr Cedwien Brown (Ind, Rothwell and Mawsley) said the cemetery looked like an unloved wilderness.

She said: "It's supposed to be a place of solace and prayer, and for remembering loved ones who are buried there, but in the state it's currently in it just adds to the sorrow of having to visit there.

"It's also becoming dangerous as the grass is now growing over the edge of the tarmac driveway so the edge is covered. I tripped and fell the other week whilst visiting my parents’ grave, fortunately onto the door of my car otherwise it could have caused a serious injury.”

She added that she was relieved the work is being done and that it is a shame it's taken so long for it to be tidied up.

She said: "It should be kept pristine at all times given that there are burials still taking place there as well as regular visits from family and friends to their loved ones' graves."

Cllr Karl Sumpter, who sits as an independent councillor on Rothwell Town Council, added: “I’m really disappointed in NNC. They have increased our council tax yet again and we are getting less and less for it every year.

"People have had to go up with a strimmer themselves to tidy the place up. It’s just disgraceful really. I know money is tight but if you’re going to put tax up you’ve got to share the wealth.”

A spokesman for NNC said: “As an area, we have had the mildest and wettest winter and spring seen for some time, followed by optimum growth conditions in May and June. This has resulted in areas appearing more overgrown and longer than normal – the grass at Rothwell cemetery was last cut on June 20 and is due to be routinely cut again this week.

“We have a dedicated team of staff covering 13 working cemeteries across north Northants and work on a daily basis at the sites, ensuring that the surroundings are pleasant and peaceful for those visiting loved ones graves.

“We would ask that anyone with any concerns to get in contact with us so we can ensure that all cemetery sites are kept to a high standard and are being routinely maintained.”