Woman disgusted by knee-grass in 'shabby' Bowling Cemetery

Bradford resident, Mandy Wright, of Thornton, visits her parents' grave in Bowling Cemetery every day but has spoken to the T&A about her disgust with the state of the grass cutting and other maintenance in the cemetery grounds.Mandy Wright, who visits her parents' grave in Bowling Cemetery, has complained about long grass in the cemetery (Image: Newsquest)

"The cemetery is look a bit shabby," said Mrs Wright. "The grass hasn't been cut in ages. I'd say it's been a month to six weeks since it's been cut. It's knee-high in places. It just needs cutting.

"I go every day to visit my mum and dad's grave to pay my respects and to look after it.

The grave of Mandy Wright's parents, Joan and Barry Charlwood, in Bowling Cemetery (Image: Newsquest)

"My mum, Joan Charlwood, died in 1992 at the age of 48 and my dad, Barry Charlwood, died in 2001 at the age of 58.

"I look at it as their garden. My mum always had a nice garden at home.

The grass in Bowling Cemetery is knee-high in places. (Image: Newsquest)

"They lived in Little Horton but wanted to be buried here."

Mrs Wright also pointed out that it is not just the long grass in the cemetery, but she also complained about the dilapidated state of the former chapel building and potholes which litter roads through the cemetery grounds.

Potholes in the road through Bowling Cemetery. (Image: Newsquest)

"There are potholes everywhere and the former chapel is in a state of disrepair.

"It's boarded up and there's no roof, and there is a fence around it to keep people out. It looks disgusting. Either knock it down or restore it.

The former chapel in Bowling Cemetery in a state of disrepair. (Image: Newsquest)

"Some people do take it into their own hands to mow and do maintenance around the graves of their loved ones.

"I just worry that people may see no point in visiting if the cemetery isn't being looked after.

Mandy Wright tends to her parents' grave in Bowling Cemetery (Image: Newsquest)

"It's important because a cemetery should look nice.

"I will be giving the Council a call about this."

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “The contractor who cuts the grass in the cemetery has experienced staffing issues which have impacted on the cemetery maintenance schedule and resulted in a delay to the work being done.

“This has been exacerbated by the warmer weather conditions causing the grass to grow faster.

“We are looking at options to make the structure of the chapel building safe to allow the fencing to be removed.

“There are separate rolling programmes to deal with both the trees and the potholes, and we are aware that work is needed at Bowling Cemetery, which will be undertaken when resources are available.”