Concerns raised over level of vandalism in Cardonald and Craigton cemeteries

Apr 18 2012 Exclusive by Emma Smith

Cardonald Cemetery Image 2

RESIDENTS in the south side have expressed their concerns over the conditions of cemeteries in their area.

The Glaswegian investigation found up to half of tombstones broken.

We visited Cardonald and Craigton cemeteries, as well as the Necropolis in the east end, to find out how bad the situation was.

In Cardonald, the graveyard was in desperate need of repair with around half of the tombstones knocked over, broken or missing.

The damage was mainly in the older part of the cemetery but – because of its consistency– it seemed unlikely that it was caused by the weather.

Craigton cemetery was also in need of some attention as many of the tombstones had been damaged or knocked over.

Barbara Wilinska, 51, from Cardonald, said: “It’s so sad, the state of the graveyard – it looks so neglected and damaged.

“I walk my dog here every day and it just seems to get worse. It’s hard to tell if it’s been caused by vandals or the weather.

“But there are a lot of tombstones that have been badly damaged. It must be hard for the relatives as nothing seems to be getting done. The council needs to do something.”

Ian Ramsay’s grandparents and great-grandparents are in Craigton cemetery and he believes the state of the grounds is shocking.

The 59-year-old Cathcart man said: “The cemetery is in a terrible state. All the outbuildings are boarded up and vandalised.

“If you’re there to see family members that you’ve tracked down, you’d be denied any solace because of the conditions of the cemetery.”

A council spokesman said: “Many of our cemeteries contain graves that are extremely old and it is no surprise that some memorials will start to deteriorate over time.

“We will always try and provide information to owners.

“However, like any other burial site in the country, the lair owner is responsible for maintaining their monuments