Cemetery gate call to help pensioners

There have been calls for a gate to be installed at a Black Country cemetery to help put an end to anti-social behaviour.

A councillor wants a gate to open up access to Wednesbury's Fallings Heath Cemetery from Woden Road North.

Pensioners from nearby Beeches Road and Beeches Crescent say that it is too far for them to walk around to the opposite side of the site to visit the graves of loved ones. A former access road into the cemetery from the road was closed off in 2003 in a bid to keep out vandals.

This followed complaints about footballers, dogs and even yobs on scrambler bikes.

But the railings put up blocking the entrance are regularly ripped up and bent by people taking shortcuts through the graveyard.

Councillor Elaine Costigan, member for Wednesbury North said: "I have been contacted by a number of pensioners in the area who want a proper gate installed at Woden Road North.

"It is too far for them to walk, and the railings often get ripped up anyway by vandals and used as a short cut.

"If we could get a proper gate installed then people could have proper access and it could be locked at night to stop people getting in.

"This would also put an end to any anti-social behaviour. I know that there would be a cost involved, but surely a one-off payment for a gate would be much better than keep paying to replace broken down railings."

Sandwell Council has said that it will investigate the situation and will consider the plans.

Sandwell neighbourhoods chief, Councillor Mahboob Hussain, said: "If Councillor Costigan puts down her request in writing then of course this is something that we will consider."

Fallings Heath Cemetery has attracted vandals for a number of years, with gravestones and buildings at the site frequently attacked.

Last month yobs targeted the graveyard, off Beebee Road Wednesbury, causing damage to headstones, as well as spray painting signs and a toilet block.