Grieving father horrified by chickens in cemetery (From The Northern Echo)

Grieving father horrified by chickens in cemetery

6:30am Friday 12th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(6)

A GRIEVING father has spoken of his horror after discovering chickens running around the cemetery where his daughter is buried.

Martin Jewkes said the general upkeep of the graveyard, at All Saints’ Church, in Hurworth, is poor and the birds, which keep escaping from a nearby property, are the final straw.

He said the grass is not well mown and often clippings are left on headstones. He also said the paths are not wellmaintained.

Mr Jewkes, 64, spoke to Hurworth Parish Council about his concerns.

“I have no objections to chickens, but a cemetery is no place for them.

“My daughter is buried there. It’s quite distressing for me and my wife to visit her grave and see chickens running around,” Mr Jewkes, who lives just outside the village, told members at Tuesday night’s meeting.

“They are disgusting and the smell is horrendous on a nice day.

“There is also rubbish all over the place. It is just ludicrous.”

Councillors resolved to try to help by speaking to the owners of the chickens.

Councillor Ken Pattinson said: “I agree with what the gentleman says.”

After the meeting, Mr Jewkes, who buried his daughter 19 years ago, said there had been long-standing problems with maintenance in the graveyard.

“The chickens are the final straw,” he said. “There are bits of rubbish strewn about and an old bicycle has appeared. I don’t think most people would put up with it. It is ridiculous.

“It is distressing every time we go. It is hard enough to lose a daughter; that is something we have to live with and accept.

But it is shocking when you have to put up with this as well. It is a third-rate cemetery for a first-rate village.”

Darlington Borough Council carries out maintenance in the cemetery.

A council spokeswoman said: “The council cuts the grass in the churchyard and strims around the headstones fortnightly, weather permitting.

“We’re not aware of any concerns in relation to the churchyard but will investigate the issues raised with us.”