Some time ago Rutland County Council threw some money in the direction of the
cemetery after families of those buried at the Kilburn Road site contacted
BBC East Midlands today.
Rutland County Council did think Oakham Town Council would be ready
to take it over.
Unfortunately after years of some councillors upsetting the County Council,
we are no closer to taking it over.
The town council recently decided to do what it should have done some
years ago, draw up a plan and obtain surveys. Something Ex Mayor Alf
Dewis ridiculed me for suggesting should be done.
I have not seen any of the required quotes for the maintenance.
The council agreed to appoint a company to carry out a survey, that company
now wants to do more than agreed by the council and of course charge more
money. I wonder if that will come to council for consideration and approval.
Last week Cllr Joyce Lucas was telling members that the cemetery was in a
poor condition again. So I visited and photographed yesterday.
It is a mess, paths covered in weeds, new trees dead and the grass cutting
is of a poor standard familiar to anyone who lives in the county, rushed
patchy cutting and as can be seen the grave stones are covered in grass
caused by the strimmer.
I find it extremely embarrassing that after a period of over two years Oakham
Town Council appear not to be able to sort this problem out,
We do very little else, this failure causes me to doubt we could even
run it correctly.
Oakham Town Council has not yet even decided who will manage the
running the cemetery, if we do ever get to take it over from Rutland County
Council.
It is also concerning to see the wooden crosses scattered around the
cemetery some with the metal name plates missing and the discarded beer cans.
