Who is responsible for these forgotten graves?
GRAVES at the former Rauceby Hospital site have been left neglected and untended for several years but no-one seems to know who is now responsible for the site.
The hospital site near Sleaford was sold for redevelopment and is now the new Greylees village. However, developers David Wilson Homes say the hospital's two cemetery areas off Willoughby Road are not owned by them.
For one family, who had travelled down from Aberdeenshire with a view to visiting the grave of their father/grandfather while on a holiday in England visiting relatives it was a shock to discover that all the graves are virtually hidden by dense undergrowth.
Mark Buswell, whose father was born in Aslackby, told the Standard: "We wanted to take my father to visit the grave of my grandfather, Bertram Buswell.
"We couldn't believe it when we saw the cemetery so overgrown and unkempt. It was like a jungle. It was really upsetting to see it in such a state.
"It doesn't seem right and it is not only us who are affected, there are other graves there which have been neglected for years which is upsetting for those families too.
"When we saw the state of the cemetery, I tried to find out just who is responsible for maintaining it but the local authorities didn't seem to know."
The Standard approached North Kesteven District Council to see if they could shed any light on who should be maintaining the former hospital cemetery area and they issued the following statement:
"The district planning authority is currently investigating ownership of the cemeteries to the south west of the Greylees/former Rauceby Hospital site, with a view to securing the future management and maintenance of these areas via a negotiated agreement with those landowners."
Meanwhile the graves of those buried in the cemeteries remain hidden beneath a dense carpet of grass, nettles and weeds that have been left to grow untreated for years.
*What do you think? Write with your views on this story to Editor, Sleaford Standard, 28 Handley Street, Sleaford NG34 7TQ, or email john.lavery@jpress.co.uk
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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