Work to improve a South Cheshire cemetery which had caused upset among bereaved families, has been completed.
The project at Meadowbrook Cemetery in Crewe aimed to improve access to an area for cremated remains.
However, families mourning loved ones complained after seeing treasured mementoes left in piles and wet mud strewn across plots.
Hailey Jane Lumsden said she had buried her mum just two weeks earlier and had not been made aware of the works.
She said her mum’s belongings had been “thrown all over the place, on top of other people’s belongings and on the field” and there had been a lack of respect.
Now Orbitas Bereavement Services Ltd says the plots, which were previously accessed by walking on grass which was often be wet and soft underfoot, can now be reached via a concrete flag path.
Cllr David Marren, Chairman of the Orbitas Board of Directors, said: “We have received a great deal of positive feedback about these access improvements from plot owners and their families.
“We hope that the end result makes up in some small way for the upset caused at the beginning of the project.”
Cheshire East Council, who own Orbitas, earlier apologised for the “distress” caused and admit some had not received notification letters prior to works starting.
Councillor Jill Rhodes said: “We acknowledge that not all relatives and plot owners were aware of the nature of the work that was to take place.
“Owing to heavy downpours, the contractors were not able to leave the site as they would have wished and in time for the weekend.
“We accept that the area should have been left in a better state and we are contacting all the families concerned to offer our apologies and to assure them that this will not happen again.”
I had great difficulty trying to reach and tend my sons grave on Xmas day ! I left in a flood of tears … there is no way to reach his grave without being caked in mud !! its disgraceful ! the so called flagged paths are of no use as headstones are placed on them and impossible to get to his grave using the flag stones !! it completely my Xmas!! it was my first Xmas without my Son and my only consolation was to visit him on the day !! I left feeling he had been dumped in a sodden battleground… I am broken hearted as I don’t now feel I can visit him when I want to !! its like a bog !! I can’t even tend to his grave without sinking into the grass… you made a bad day horrendous !!!
It still does, grass still over grown. Muddy tyre tracks all over the field gives it that authentic farmers field for sure 🙄😞
You need to pay more attention to cutting the grass as looks like a farmers field.