TEATHER RAISES CONCERNS OF FRIENDS OF PADDINGTON CEMETERY

6.21.21pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 12th Mar 2004

Local Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather has today raised concerns of the Friends of Paddington Cemetery, Willesden Lane. The Brent East MP recently visited the cemetery with John Tymon, the Co-ordinator of Friends of Paddington Cemetery to listen to the group's concerns.

The group are particularly concerned about the use of the pathways in the cemetery for burial use. The Friends group is concerned that disabled visitors to the cemetery will find they cannot access their loved ones graves because the pathways have been removed and used for burial. The problem is exacerbated by the loss of drains when the paths are ripped out, leaving grass waterlogged and inaccessible by wheelchair.

This issue is one of a number raised by local Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather in a letter to the Director of Cemeteries and Mortuaries at Brent Council, Bob Langford. Other concerns raised include the proposed positioning of a new toilet block, the use of pesticides at the cemetery and the cemetery expansion.

Local Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather said:

"I hope that the Council will listen to the concerns of the Friends of Paddington Cemetery. Having visited the cemetery myself I can see how the use of the pathways for burial use is restrictive to those who are disabled. Disabled people must be allowed access to the graves of their loved ones.

"I would like to see the Council work more closely with the Friends group so that the views of those who use the cemetery are considered before the Council make decisions and carry out work."