'When they took the casket out - it fell to pieces' - Walsall woman hits out after loved-one was exhumed at ‘mud bath’ cemetery

Karon Senft described the ‘heartbreaking day’ as the deceased’s casket was ‘bowed and falling apart’ after its removal.

The Saddleworth Road site is well-known for having poor drainage caused by the cemetery’s location on a glacial till, which makes the soil less able to absorb water.

The loved-one was buried in a cremation plot in April 2023, but after ground conditions ‘like a mud bath’ continued, Karon complained to Walsall Council.

The authority agreed to take the deceased out of the plot and have them buried elsewhere at the cemetery, at the council’s expense.

Karon said: “We had a couple of days of rain prior to the day of internment. When we got there, they had put wooden boards down for us to stand on but one relative was in a wheelchair and they couldn’t get close.

“The vicar was there, and his cloak was caked in mud, we were all caked in mud. It was horrendous. Every time we went to visit, it was just like a mud bath and we couldn’t understand why.”

After a number of weeks, Karon eventually complained to Walsall Council and claimed that she was told the family could have chosen a plot that didn’t flood for an extra £85.

She said: “When we were sold the plot, not once were we told there were any issues at the cemetery. Not once were we told we could pay extra to choose a plot. We just presumed you had the next plot that was in line, as it were.

“After lots and lots of complaining, they offered us a removal, which wasn’t nice for the family.

“When they took the casket out, it was a wooden one, it fell to pieces, it was that waterlogged. We were struggling to hold it together and it had only been in the ground about 10 weeks. It was just horrendous.

“What made it worse for us is that we chose to lay him to rest on his birthday, it was a special day. We could never take that day back. It was all very upsetting for the family.”

Karon said Walsall Council ‘should be ashamed’ to sell plots that flood. She added: “They’re continuing to sell plots there. They should have let us know there were issues.

“They should be ashamed of themselves selling people plots over the phone. And why do you have to pay extra money to choose a plot that doesn’t flood?

“When we were dealing with the issue, there wasn’t any kind of understanding or compassion. Yes, they eventually said we could have him exhumed and they would pay all the costs – I should think so.

“I want to hear that they’re no longer selling plots in that area of the cemetery. They’re not fit for purpose. You’re messing with people’s loved ones, their emotions.”

A council spokesperson said: “We fully understand how important it is for families to visit loved ones in a safe and dignified environment.

“With recent prolonged rainfall causing waterlogging across parks and green spaces including cemeteries, our teams continue daily to manage and maintain our sites, focusing on the most affected areas and improving access where safe to do so. North Walsall Cemetery has also had recent investment in additional drainage to improve conditions.

“As the weather improves, we expect conditions to steadily stabilise and will monitor the cemetery closely. Our priority is to maintain our cemeteries to the highest standard possible and we remain committed to improving conditions as soon as nature allows.”