Beckenham Crematorium and Cemetery will clear up mess (From News Shopper)

Beckenham Crematorium and Cemetery will clear up mess

7:16am Tuesday 16th March 2010 in

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MYSTERY surrounds heaps of dumped grave ornaments which have been discovered outside a cemetery.

A concerned dog walker contacted your favourite local newspaper after discovering hundreds of vases, flower pots, ornaments and flowers dumped on an embankment in Elmers End.

News Shopper investigated and found the items, normally decorating burial and rememberance plots at Beckenham Crematorium and Cemetery, had been carelessly thrown over the cemetery fence.

It is not known who dumped the decorations but the company running the cemetery, Dignity, says it is in the process of clearing the area.

A spokesman said: “We were unaware that these items were there because until recently it was covered by undergrowth and trees.

“Our staff are currently removing the items that can be reached. We are meeting a specialist contractor to arrange clearing the rest of the area.”

He added: “We have spoken to the local neighbourhood police team who have agreed to increase the regularity of patrols within the crematorium and cemetery grounds to try and stop these items being disposed of in this way.”

Last month, we revealed how staff at the cemetery in Elmers End Road had swept up sentimental ornaments and keepsakes and dumped them in the mud for collection as part of a spring clean.

Many items were broken and bereaved families spoke of their anger at the way their carefully placed ornaments had been treated.

Dignity issued a full apology and said its staff had been retrained.

Brian Sweeney, 72, discovered items were missing from his son’s plot. After complaining to cemetery bosses, he told News Shopper: “This removal of ornaments and other tributes may be necessary but they should have given people a fair bit of notice.”

And after items were taken from her husband’s plot in the memorial garden, Jean Dignum has sent letters of complaint to Dignity.

The 72-year-old said: “I do not believe these were actions of a sensitive and caring organisation.”