Families Heartbroken as Flooding Plagues North Walsall Cemetery Again
Mourners visiting loved ones at North Walsall Cemetery have voiced their anguish after plots flooded once more over the weekend, describing the scene as "like a lake" and "devastating" for grieving families.
"I Was Sinking in the Mud": Personal Accounts of Distress
Diane Wilson, 50, recounted her distressing experience when she went to visit her mother's grave. "I went to my mum's plot but I was sinking in the mud. I couldn't put flowers down because I was getting stuck in the mud," she said. "The one next to my mum's was like a swimming pool. The one in front of my mum's was like a river."
Diane emphasized her mother's wishes, stating, "Before she passed she always said make sure there's always fresh flowers and it's always clean. She would not want to go anywhere like that." She added that Walsall Council should have warned her family about the flooding issues before offering the plot, which cost over £3,600.
Persistent Problems and Financial Concerns
Angela Meeson, also 50, visits her mother's grave every week and noted the worsening conditions. "It's always been a bit muddy by my mum but it's gotten worse. There's graves that are underwater," she explained. "I go up every week and I used to sit down for half an hour chatting to mum but I can't do that now. If I bring a foldable chair or plastic bag to sit on you just sink in."
Angela expressed frustration over the financial aspect, saying, "We paid a lot of money for our cremation plot and it's devastating. I don't think they should offer plots that flood, it's not fair. They're just taking people's money and not warning them about it."
Historical Context and Drainage Efforts
North Walsall Cemetery is known for poor drainage due to its location on glacial till, which makes the soil unable to absorb water effectively. In 2020, almost all of the 24 graves in the babies' section were submerged in water, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Later that year, Walsall Council spent over £260,000 on drainage works to address the issue. However, Angela pointed out, "All the baby graves were underwater but now it's just shifted the problem somewhere else. My mum's plot has a headstone but there's a few that haven't and they're the ones that are underwater. When the water's gone it'll just be mud."
Call for Action and Council Response
Both families are urging the council to resolve the ongoing flooding problems. Angela summed up their plea: "We just want it sorting. It's not about anything else. We just want it sorted." Walsall Council has been approached for comment regarding the recent flooding incidents and the effectiveness of past drainage improvements.
The emotional toll on visitors is clear, with Diane and Angela highlighting how the conditions prevent them from properly honoring their loved ones, turning what should be a place of solace into a source of further grief and frustration.
