REPAIRS and improvements have been carried out in and around Barnard Castle cemetery following complaints to the town council.
Last month, Cllr Roger Peat, chairman of the services committee, reported that concerns about potholes and mud on the approach to the cemetery from Victoria Road had been raised.
Meanwhile, inside the graveyard, a pile of soil and boulders had been dumped against the wooden boundary fence and this had been the subject to a separate complaint.
Both have now been addressed.
Durham County Council’s clean and green team moved quickly to remove the soil and boulders.
And despite question marks over who is actually responsible for the approach road, the town council stepped in with Cllr Peat and a group of volunteers spreading hardcore over the pock-marked surface in an effort to improve the track.
Durham County Council insisted it is not responsible for the track, but Cllr Peat said the important thing was to get the work done so hearses and other vehicles were not jolted as loved ones were taken to their final place of rest.
With other graveyards adjacent to the approach road as well as the town cemetery, Cllr Peat said Durham thought the responsibility may rest with the churches – however, no-one knows for sure.
“A question mark remains as to exactly who is responsible,” he said.
On maps, the track is simply labelled “unmarked road” .
“The town council had some hardcore left from another job we were doing on paths so we could get on with the job,” added Cllr Peat.
“We had got ten tons as it was a cheaper option than getting dumpy bags.”
He added: “Well done to the county council for tidying up inside the cemetery in such a timely fashion.”
