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Calls made for better roads in Belper's cemetery
Calls have been made for urgent repairs to paths in Belper's cemetery.
A father who regularly visits his son's grave says his car rocks as he drives on the uneven track and warns that those walking could twist their ankle.
Amber Valley Borough Council has resurfaced much of the graveyard but two paths were left out.
The authority said it was is currently looking for the funds to complete the job, and it hopes to have the roads re-laid in the autumn, but critics have said they should not have been left in this state.
Derek Storer's son Mark, who died in a motorbike crash in 1993, is buried in the cemetery near to the two uneven paths.
Mr Storer, of Mount Pleasant Drive, said: "Sadly, we have cause to drive up on a regular basis and in your car it is a problem.
"The car is rocking from side to side and it's unstable.
"If someone was walking there they could twist their ankle.
"It's a disgrace."
Undertakers, who have to drive their hearses and limousines over the bumps, are also unhappy at the state of the paths.
Jackie Fox, from Thomas Ryde and Sons, in Bridge Street, said: "I agree the roads are getting uneven, and it could really do with sorting, but it's such a beautiful cemetery. We have to accept the cemetery is on a hill and it's very tight to get up there anyway. We don't really have many problems though."
The council is also looking to make changes to extend the main path at the graveyard.
Simon Gladwin, assistant director for environmental services, explained that the authority was hoping to resurface the uneven paths at the same time.
He said: "The borough council is aware of the problem with the two paths within Belper Cemetery and is currently exploring ways to fund relaying them.
"We have already secured funding to extend the main cemetery roadway and is now preparing to seek quotations from contractors to carry out this work.
"Within this project, scheduled to take place in October 2010, the council aims to relay the paths.
"Whether or not this can happen will be subject to the cost of the roadway work."
There are still a number of empty plots on that side of the graveyard, which backs onto woodland.
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Weather for Belper
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
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