Millennium cemetery work gets go ahead

By Amanda Cresswell

THE wheels have been set in motion to tackle the issue of flooding at the Millennium Cemetery, in Ipswich.

Earlier this year grieving relatives told The Evening Star of their horror of traipsing through inches of water to place flowers in memory of their loved ones.

But following a meeting of the borough council's executive committee officials approved £48,000 extra funding to improve the land drainage at the garden of remembrance. The work is set to go ahead as soon as possible.

Penny Breakwell, chair of the committee, said work already started this month on the highway ditches, but recognised more needed to be done to help solve the problem.

"Technical advice given when the cemetery was built was that extensive drainage was needed, which was put in," she said.

"We have had the wettest winter and spring for many years. No one could have anticipated it. Many cemeteries across the country had to cease operation in the spring. We are grateful, as far as possible, that we didn't have to stop going."

One recommendation was for more tree planting at the garden of remembrance.

"Once established the roots of the trees act as drainage, but the extra tree planting can't take place at the moment because of the weather," explained Mrs Breakwell.

"The recommendation was that work starts again as soon as possible. But it is not known when that will be because it is dependent upon the weather conditions."

Widow Georgette Clench, whose husband Benjamin died of lung cancer aged 79 had previously branded her husband's internment at the Millennium Cemetery as callous.

Speaking to the Star back in May she said the image of her late husband's ashes placed in a pool of water will haunt her for the rest of her life.

"My husband was a human being. I am disgusted and think about it, especially when I lie in bed at night.

"To think that a the casket is lying in a pool of water is scandalous. It added to my distress."