Grieving families’ fury as Darwen cemetery runs dry

The taps have run dry at the cemetery meaning people wishing to water flowers on graves and memorials have been forced to carry their own water up to the cemetery.

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Borough council bosses said it’s staff were currently trying to fix a burst water pipe and resolve the problem.

But volunteers at the Friends of Darwen Cemetery said they were disappointed the problem had gone on for so long.

The group’s chairman John East said: “We were told it is all about manpower levels.

“Apparently while digging graves they cut through a pipe by accident and have been unable to find a metre or the source of the pipe.

“It is a shame for the people who have got graves in the cemetery that a lot of them can’t get water up there.

“It would be ideal if they put in some water butts as a temporary solution.”

A Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council spokesperson said “The council are aware that a water pipe within Darwen Cemetery burst earlier this year and officers are currently investigating methods to resolve this issue.

“We will continue to work with the friends of Darwen Cemetery to keep residents informed.”

Darwen Cemetery is split into two halves: East and West. The West cemetery is the original cemetery containing very old graves. The Eastern Cemetery is the newest cemetery, which opened in 1949.

This is not the first time the council has been criticised over the state of the burial ground.

In June 2103 state of the eastern cemetery was condemned by the mother of a seven-year-old girl who is buried there.

Samantha Allan, mother of neuroblastoma victim Madison, who died on Boxing Day 2011, said grass in the cemetery was overgrown and bins were overflowing.

At the time Blackburn with Darwen Council executive member for environment Jim Smith, said borough staff cut the grass as often as it could on a limited budget. The Labour councillor blamed government cuts for the problems.