Mount Pleasant Chapel in Wisbech cemetery to be boarded up to stop drug users and rough sleepers using it

Problems with drug users and rough sleepers have prompted the boarding up of a local cemetery chapel.

Fenland District Council is set to board up the porch area of the Mount Pleasant Chapel in Wisbech to help people visit the cemetery without "concern".

In a notice shared on Facebook by Councillor Virginia Bucknor she explains: "We have had issues with both drug users and rough sleepers in the doorway of the chapel.

"Some time ago plans we discussed plans with officers to add a gate to the porch. This work did not go forward and is not a simple job as the chapel is a listed Grade II heritage asset.

"There is continuing evidence of drug use in the area along with arise in rough sleeping.

"To reduce the use of the porch it will be boarded up shortly. This will not look especially attractive, but will mean that visiting the cemetery does not cause people as much concern as it does at present.

"Fenland officer have discussed the problem with the council's Conservation officer and they will be working together to get an approved gate fitted ASAP. The boarding up will be temporary, but could be in place for several months. Once we have the gate fitted we should, once again, have a nice entrance area to the cemetery."

On a separate issue the council is having some smaller trees removed that are growing randomly from several graves throughout the cemetery.

This will clear up the look of the cemetery and improve sight lines further. As part of this work the root/stump of a tree that came down some time ago will also be removed, which is still sitting opposite the chapel near the entrance.

Coun Bucknor concluded: "Please be assured the boarding is a temporary measure, awaiting a permanent, conservation and heritage acceptable, solution."