Border Telegraph | News | Grave concerns over cemetery

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Wednesday, 10th September, 2008 08:00

Grave concerns over cemetery

By Ally McGilvray

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GRAVE concerns have been raised over the state of one of the oldest cemeteries in the Borders.

While campaigners fight controversial plans to gag the bells on the war memorial in Galashiels, a headstone at the town’s Eastlands cemetery dedicated to the fallen soldier they have rung out in tribute to for 80 years has suffered in silence.

The memorial to the Cochrane family, who presented the Westminster chimes in memory of their son who was killed in World War One, has become overgrown with weeds and fallen flat on its face where it has lain abandoned for more than a year.

And, elsewhere in the cemetery, a grave dedicated to the Hayward family - who donated the playing fields at Netherdale to the people of Galashiels and started the annual Braw Lads Gathering – also lies in ruins.

Galashiels and Langlee Community Council heard Scottish Borders Council, which is responsible for the upkeep of the cemetery were made aware of the state of the stones in April last year. But, this week, they remain of grave concern.

Speaking to the Border Telegraph at the cemetery, community councillor Ian Wightman said: “It’s really a disgrace that this can be allowed to happen – it seems disrespectful.

“The community council first raised this with the council a year and a half ago but it’s still in exactly the same state.

“They should really be looked after. And given the history of the stones I would like to see them restored.”

Scottish Borders Council said headstones are the responsibility of the deceased’s family.

But it revealed ambitious plans to improve the cemetery are set to be unveiled.

A spokesperson for the local authority said: “Plans are currently being worked up for a major programme of work at Eastlands cemetery.

“SBC's Parks Manager has visited the cemetery looking at issues which include tree felling, weed control, reinstatement of sunken graves and lifting headstones.

“As this programme of work is quite ambitious the plan is to carry out a consultation exercise in advance of undertaking the work, culminating in an open day at the cemetery where the public can meet with staff and be shown around the cemetery, giving people the opportunity to comment and amend the plan.

“In doing this work it is anticipated that a number of headstones will be re erected and it may be that this will include the headstones in question.

“However, fallen headstones are the responsibility of the deceased's family. The council's responsibility lies in making sure that headstones are safe and this is why some are laid flat to take away the risk of a heavy stone falling on someone.”

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