‘There is no respect for the dead in Gala’

Galashiels councillors are taking Scottish Borders Council and the Scottish Government to task after a series of complaints over the state of the town’s green spaces.
Barbara Stewart and Councillor Euan Jardine in the overgrown Heatheryett Cemetery in Galashiels.Barbara Stewart and Councillor Euan Jardine in the overgrown Heatheryett Cemetery in Galashiels.
Barbara Stewart and Councillor Euan Jardine in the overgrown Heatheryett Cemetery in Galashiels.

Councillor Euan Jardine is pushing the council to sort out the town’s cemeteries after being contacted by several concerned residents.

He told us: “I received some complaints a few weeks ago and fully understand the council are stretched at this period due to covid-19, but I received a reply from the council that cemeteries we’re being cut after I raised it with them.

“So I fully expected work to be carried out by now.

This being Braw Lads' week, Bank Street Gardens would, in normal circumstances, be awash with colour and in prime condition. Now, it is overgrown and weeds are taking over. A crew from Galashiels in Bloom were moved on by police when they tried to tidy it up earlier this month.This being Braw Lads' week, Bank Street Gardens would, in normal circumstances, be awash with colour and in prime condition. Now, it is overgrown and weeds are taking over. A crew from Galashiels in Bloom were moved on by police when they tried to tidy it up earlier this month.
This being Braw Lads' week, Bank Street Gardens would, in normal circumstances, be awash with colour and in prime condition. Now, it is overgrown and weeds are taking over. A crew from Galashiels in Bloom were moved on by police when they tried to tidy it up earlier this month.
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“So, when I visited both Heatheryett and Eastland’s cemetery today (Sunday) after receiving another complaint, I was shocked to see them both still in a terrible state.

“At the Heatheryett cemetery I was approached by several people who were understandably very emotional about the situation, especially with it being Father’s Day.

“I have also been advised by friends in Peebles, Jedburgh and Innerleithen that their cemeteries are in great condition.

“So I really question why Galashiels is being left to overgrow.

This being Braw Lads' week, Bank Street Gardens would, in normal circumstances, be awash with colour and in prime condition. Now, it is overgrown and weeds are taking over. A crew from Galashiels in Bloom were moved on by police when they tried to tidy it up earlier this month.This being Braw Lads' week, Bank Street Gardens would, in normal circumstances, be awash with colour and in prime condition. Now, it is overgrown and weeds are taking over. A crew from Galashiels in Bloom were moved on by police when they tried to tidy it up earlier this month.
This being Braw Lads' week, Bank Street Gardens would, in normal circumstances, be awash with colour and in prime condition. Now, it is overgrown and weeds are taking over. A crew from Galashiels in Bloom were moved on by police when they tried to tidy it up earlier this month.
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“It really is not acceptable and I am calling for a review of how graveyards are managed going forward in the region”

Colin and Barbara Stewart raised the matter with Mr Jardine when he visited Heatheryett.

Barbara said: “We feel it is a disgrace that the people of Galashiels have to lie in the wilderness.

“It’s as if we have forgotten about our past and the people that built this town.

“There is no respect for the dead.

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“We have several graves in this cemetery and to see thistles and grass overgrown is truly saddening.

“I understand that coronavirus impacted services and held things back, but to hear other towns have graveyards are in better condition truly saddens us.”

Another Galashiels resident, Raymond Hume, said: “I have just been up to Heatheryett cemetery to put some flowers on my dad’s grave and I am absolutely disgusted with the state of the place.

“The grass doesn’t look like its been cut since lockdown.

“I know this mabye seems a minor complaint considering we are in the middle of a pandemic and people are losing their lives, but i know for a fact that playing fields in empty schools have been getting cut regularly along with all the football and rugby pitches, none of which i would say was essential.”

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Others said they took their own strimmer to tidy up their loved one’s resting place and some questioned the safety of the sites, especially for older people.

A council spokesperson told us: “We began grasscutting in April in active cemeteries and open spaces, including sports pitches, using tractors and ride-on machinery only.

“This is line with Scottish Government guidelines.

“At this challenging time, we are continuing to prioritise essential services such as burials, kerbside waste collections, community recycling centres, the inspire learning programme and food deliveries to vulnerable families.

“This is currently impacting on the frequency of grass cutting, but as we move forward we will aim to increase our grass cutting activities, including in active cemeteries.”

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Meanwhile, Mr Jardine’s fellow town councillors Sandy Aitchison and Harry Scott have written to the Scottish Government to ask for guidance for volunteers after a group from Galashiels in Bloom tidying up the town’s Bank Street Gardens were moved on by police after someone complained.

In a joint statement, they said: “Galashiels’ main shopping street is in a sorry state.

“The one ‘jewel in its crown’ is Bank Street Gardens which were maintained in pristine condition with bursts of colour throughout most of the year, and which attracted visitors to the town from all over the Borders and beyond.

“The legislation has created anomalies.

“The covid-19 regulations do not permit volunteer work, which could lead to the possibility of otherwise law-abiding citizens opening themselves to prosecution.

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Whilst, provided they obey the laws on social distancing, people can go to shops, meet in the street and in public parks, and are able to enjoy a round of golf, volunteers who try to keep their streets and public green spaces neat and tidy, whilst exercising social distancing, contravene the law.

“Volunteers from Galashiels in Bloom who began work in Bank Street Gardens recently, were told to stop by the police.

“All laws need a common sense element in the reasoning for their existence, but this particular prohibition in relation to public green spaces has fallen into disrepute, and is being widely ignored by many communities.

“The risk of otherwise law-abiding people being criminalised if enforcement is taken to its extreme is not a desirable outcome for anyone.

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“We are therefore demanding that Scottish Government issues suitable guidance so that willing volunteers, whose only desire is to see the aesthetic appearance of their communities restored, can lawfully and safely go about that task.”

A council spokesperson said: “The Borders is very fortunate to have so many floral gateway and community groups who play their part to help our region continue to be an attractive place to live in and visit.

“Both the council and these volunteer groups are keen to do as much as they can to maintain the Borders, but the current coronavirus restrictions has meant these works have had to be delayed.

“We understand the frustrations some groups will have with the current position, but we must all continue to consider the safety of the public as our number one priority.

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“We will continue to work with these groups to ensure we support them to play as full and active roles in their communities as they can in the coming weeks and months.”

The spokesperson added: “We greatly value the work of volunteers across the Borders, many of whom have stepped up to help their communities during the most challenging period in living memory.”

Last month, a group of volunteers were roundly applauded on social media for taking it upon themselves to cut the grass in the gardens.