BROMLEY CEMETERY

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23808, 30 November 1942, Page 6

BROMLEY CEMETERY

Sir,—Could you state the reason why Bromley cemetery is in such a shocking state of neglect and untidiness? The grass in the pathways has not been cut for ages and is growing wild, and there are big heaps of rubbish, and stale flowers, which have not been moved for some time. The garden plots in the city can be attended to. The council can always find men for that sort of thing, so surely ‘it is not too much to expect that our cemeteries be kept in-ordinarily decent order. It seems to those who have their dear ones buried'there. that there is a want of the finer feelings, and a glaring amount of desecration and want of respect for the dead—Yours, etc., CONCERNED. November 24, 1942. This letter was referred to Mr M. J. Barnett, superintendent of reserves, vho made the following comment; “While the correspondent may have some justification for complaint, it should be remembered that even in normal times the long grass, not only in Bromley Cemetery, but all over the city, is a difficult problem at this time of the year. An extra hand has been engaged to deal with the grass, and it is hoped that very shortly all pathways will be in proper order, The worst feature of the cemetery, however, is the neglected state of the burial plots. The responsibility for the upkeep of these plots is entirely that of the owner or next-of-kin. For a small fee the City Council will maintain these plots in perpetuity or per annum, but very few citizens avail themselves of this offer. “It should also be remembered that whereas the city garden plots are maintained out of the general fund, the cemeteries are maintained out of cemetery fees. The cemetery account does not allow for large expenditure, which could only be financed by a large increase in fees.”