A concerned Coatbridge mum has slammed the state of the cemetery where her parents and grandparents are buried.
Mary Gray says Old Monkland cemetery in her home town is plagued with "overgrown grass and weeds" and hit out at the amount of potholes in the road leading into the site of her loved ones' final resting place.
The 57-year-old says the situation is "stressful" and that she now wouldn't want her relatives to be buried in the cemetery if it was in its current condition.
Mary told Lanarkshire Live : "My parents, Finlay and Joan Johnston, and grandparents, John and Ellen Sharp, are all buried at Old Monkland and it's heartbreaking to see the state the cemetery is in.
"I went quite recently and I got a hell of a shock when I saw it. So much of the grass is overgrown and there are weeds everywhere; it looks so untidy.
"The potholes on the road into the cemetery are shocking too and it all makes what is already a trying experience much more unpleasant.
"It's stressful visiting the family's graves now and my son was really upset when he saw the condition of the cemetery.
"It's so bad I now wouldn't want my family buried there if I could turn back time."
Mary claims she has spoken with a gravedigger at the cemetery who told her their team of staff was reduced "from six to three" and Mary says it's "unfair they are getting abuse from people who are unhappy as it isn't their fault".
She added: "A lot of work is needing done to the cemetery, and the roads should be getting tarred.
"If staffing numbers are low then why don't the council see if there are volunteers, such as people in the community or students doing gardening-style courses, who could help out with cleaning up the cemetery? Or get people doing community service to go there.
"One of the most frustrating things about the condition of the cemetery is that it would be a relatively easy fix with some time and effort."
A council spokesperson said: “In all cemeteries in North Lanarkshire, grass is cut on an approximately fortnightly basis from April to October, in line with the council’s agreed maintenance standards.
“We recognise there is an issue with weed growth around headstones and on some pathways, which has arisen following the council’s decision last year to cease using weedkillers containing glyphosate.
"A trial of alternative products is underway but there is no single, cost effective treatment available at this time.
“Our staff take great pride in delivering a good standard of service within cemeteries and are carrying out weeding manually alongside their other duties. Therefore, at the present time, it will not be possible to maintain the same standard of maintenance until a suitable alternative weed treatment is identified.
"The council welcomes support from communities in managing and maintaining our cemeteries, parks and green spaces, and we work with a number of cemeteries ‘Friends’ groups. Anyone interested in starting a group can contact our bereavement services manager on 01698 506300.”
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