‘Awful’ mess and fly-tipping at Scholemoor Cemetery

At the end of last week, a number of dumped items and litter were strewn across Scholemoor Cemetery and Crematorium, in Necropolis Road. A member of the public - who wished to remain anonymous - was going to visit his grandma's grave last Thursday when he came across an "awful mess". The man took photos of the fly-tipping, which he said included a bed, sofas and a baby pram.

Fly-tipping at Scholemoor Cemetery on January 4 (Image: UGC) More rubbish in Scholemoor Cemetery on January 9, at the east side of the plot (Image: Telegraph & Argus) He has been left feeling mad and upset at what he saw and said it "looks a mess, and dirty, and awful in a graveyard".

There was also "loads of rubbish" at the side of the old graves after entering the cemetery from Necropolis Road and turning right. A Bradford Council spokesperson said: "We understand that the disrespectful, irresponsible and illegal fly tipping taking place at Scholemoor cemetery causes great distress to families, visitors and staff. "When notified, the Bereavement Service seeks to clear the tipped material as soon as possible.

"Vehicular access to the cemetery is restricted once the last cremation is completed however total closure is not possible as access for burial is required until late evening. "We will seek to prosecute all such antisocial activity and would encourage the public to assist by reporting any relevant information about those carrying out this activity to either the police or the Council." Rubbish near a grave headstone in Scholemoor Cemetery on January 9 (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

Rubbish near a grave headstone in Scholemoor Cemetery on January 9 (Image: Telegraph & Argus) The Telegraph & Argus visited the area on Tuesday and saw rubbish strewn across the ground and near three gravestones, to the east of the cemetery, close to where the path runs parallel to Walker Avenue beyond the grounds wall. Rubbish near another grave headstone at Scholemoor Cemetery on January 9 (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

Rubbish near another grave headstone at Scholemoor Cemetery on January 9 (Image: Telegraph & Argus) Rubbish near a third grave headstone at Scholemoor Cemetery on January 9 (Image: Telegraph & Argus) There was even a drum kit discarded in the graveyard, as well as a tyre and children's trike hanging in a tree in that same area.

What looks to be a drum discarded at Scholemoor Cemetery, pictured on January 9 at the east side of the plot (Image: Telegraph & Argus) A tyre and a child's trike sit in a tree at Scholemoor Cemetery, pictured on January 9 at the east side of the plot (Image: Telegraph & Argus) More rubbish in Scholemoor Cemetery on January 9, at the east side of the plot (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

Scholemoor Cemetery has been blighted with issues over the past year. A haul of car parts were dumped on a pathway at the graveyard and set on fire last May[1], then just a month later Bradford Council slammed "unacceptable" behaviour after a fire was lit near some graves[2] and beer cans were left among the charred debris. Then in December, a grave was destroyed after a crash between two cars ended up in one of the vehicles leaving the access road[3] in the cemetery and causing damage.

A video on TikTok apparently showed a car on top of a grave.

The anonymous member of the public had a final message for those brazen enough to fly-tip at such a sacred and cherished place.

He said: "Stop leaving rubbish in a graveyard, leave them in your garden and get the council to move them."

References

1. ^ dumped on a pathway at the graveyard and set on fire last May (www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk)
2. ^ slammed "unacceptable" behaviour after a fire was lit near some graves (www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk)
3. ^ a grave was destroyed after a crash between two cars ended up in one of the vehicles leaving the access road (www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk)