Appeal to community to help tackle anti-social behaviour in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Wisbech by cleaning it up
A local councillor is hoping to tackle anti-social behaviour and other issues in a town's cemetery with the help of the local community.
Wisbech town and district councillor Andy Maul said he has been inundated in recent weeks with complaints about anti-social behaviour and the over-grown state of Mount Pleasant Cemetery and is now hoping people will get behind him and help clean it up.
He said: "I have had lots of complaints and there have been comments on social media about the state of the cemetery. So I have decided to take it back to the people and ask them to get involved in helping to clean it up.
"There has been anti-social issues in the cemetery, including random fires being lit on some graves, drinking, drug taking, and rough sleeping.
"The problem as I see it is the older part of the cemetery is overgrown and there is plenty of bushes and undergrowth for people to hide in and to do whatever they are want to do including to cause trouble.
"My idea is to set up a number of working groups of volunteers who are willing to get in there and help tidy it all up, which is why I have organised a public meeting at the Oasis Centre on October 30 from 7pm - there will even be tea and coffee.
"I'm hoping we will get a good response so we can set up a number of groups so people can get involved at different times and on different days to fit in around their own commitments.
"I have contacted Fenland District council to discuss what needs to be done and they are happy to support us, but they do not have any extra money to spend. The Animals and People Charity have said they would like to help, which is a fantastic start.
"We will be setting up the Mount Pleasant Cemetery Group as a sub committee of Waterlees In Bloom so we do not have to go through the rigmarole of setting up a constitution or getting our insurance.
"The only way the cemetery is will be tidied up and kept tidy is for us to do it ourselves, so the more people come along and volunteer the better.
"Come and help us make the cemetery a beautiful place for people to go and pay their respects."