Pop star Cheryl’s household have spoken of their devastation after the native council intentionally knocked over her grandparents’ headstone with out warning on account of ’security causes’.
Brian and Margaret Tweedy’s gravestone is amongst tons of which have been flattened at Heaton Cemetery in Newcastle amid considerations.
The singer was near her grandmother Margaret, who died in 2001 on the age of 60. She by no means knew her grandfather Brian, who had a coronary heart assault in 1980, on the age of simply 39, three years earlier than the Woman’s Aloud star was born.
Native residents had been left livid after works resulted in tons of of stones being toppled, however Newcastle Metropolis Council claimed it had put notices in place within the cemetery previous to the work being carried out.
Cheryl’s uncle, Tony Tweedy, has spoken of his disgust after the household found Margaret and Brian’s resting place had been desecrated over the weekend.
Women Aloud star Cheryl’s grandparents’ grave is one in every of tons of to be affected
Brian and Margaret Tweedy’s gravestone is amongst tons of which have been flattened at Heaton Cemetery in Newcastle
Cheryl’s household are ’devastated’ by the transfer, which they are saying they acquired no warning about
Mr Tweedy, a 59-year-old transport employee, stated: ’Cheryl did not know my dad however she was near my mum, her grandmother.
’I can think about she might be upset when she finds out. She’s like the remainder of us. She will get emotional about issues.
’Her dad will inform her what’s occurred. She does not come as much as Newcastle as a lot now, however she might be saddened by this.’
Grandfather Mr Tweedy was informed by one other relative his father or mother’s grave had been taken down noticed it himself on Sunday.
The household is only one of tons of devastated by the actions of Newcastle Metropolis Council, who say they’ve flattened the stones amid security considerations.
Mr Tweedy believes the council made no try to contact the household forward of the work and says they now face a invoice of round £500 to restore the gravestone.
He added: ’We’re disgusted by what’s occurred. The council could not have executed this at a worse time, simply earlier than Christmas.
’It is when lots of people go to the graves of family members. It is unhealthy sufficient to lose your dad and mom, however for individuals who have misplaced youngsters, the heartache might be even worse. They are going to be devastated.
’I went all the way down to the cemetery after being informed by my brother.
Cheryl’s uncle Tony Tweedy, 59, stated the singer might be ’upset’ when she is informed the information
Mr Tweedy believes the council made no try to contact the household forward of the work and says they now face a invoice of round £500 to restore the gravestone (pictured)
The household is only one of tons of devastated by the actions of Newcastle Metropolis Council, who say they’ve flattened the stones amid security considerations
Newcastle Metropolis Council stated: ’We perceive that is an emotive and delicate topic however we want to reassure households that the work is carried out with the best respect and sensitivity’
Residents visiting the graves of their family members at Heaton cemetery had been livid after they found the headstones laid flat on the grass
’The gravestone was mendacity on its again. There was nothing fallacious with it. It wasn’t free.
’There are graves in worse situation which have not been touched. None of it is sensible.’
Tony says his sister visits the gravestone commonly, and would have observed if there was an issue with it.
His spouse Debbie, a 60-year-old carer, added: ’Tony noticed households in tears on the cemetery. It is devastating.’
The graves affected have been faraway from the bottom and laid on their backs.
Yellow labels have been caught to them which learn: ’Warning: This memorial is unsafe.’
A kind of affected was Derek Armstrong’s memorial to his triplets, who all died as infants.
He wished to go to his sons’ resting place forward of laying his mother-in-law’s ashes the following day, however when he arrived he discovered the boys’ gravestone mendacity on the bottom with a yellow signal branding it ’unsafe’.
Matthew, Daniel and Luke had been born on April 23 1995 at 24 weeks ’weighing simply ounces’. Matthew died a day after he was born, Daniel at nine-days previous and Luke at five-months.
The council stated it had taken down the headstones for security causes and had left a discover signal on the cemetery
Derek Armstrong went to the cemetery final week to go to the memorial to his triplets who died earlier than reaching their first birthday to search out the gravestone had been laid flat
The bereaved father has now been quoted £300 plus VAT to have the gravestone put again up.
Earlier this month, council chiefs in North Yorkshire additionally sparked outrage after knocking down dozens of headstones following a ’topple take a look at’.
Offended residents described the actions by workmen at Haxby and Wigginton Cemetery close to York, North Yorkshire, as an ’act of vandalism.’
A spokesperson for Newcastle Metropolis Council stated: ’We’ve got a authorized responsibility to make sure our cemeteries are protected locations for individuals to pay their respects and for our workers to work in. In June, we began a programme of labor to hold out security inspections in all 10 of the council’s managed cemeteries.
’A choice to put down a memorial is barely taken if they’re deemed to current a threat to the general public.
’We perceive that is an emotive and delicate topic however we want to reassure households that the work is carried out with the best respect and sensitivity.
’We at all times attempt to contact the final recognized proprietor ought to their gravestone should be repaired however please respect this may occasionally not at all times be doable. Our workers are at all times available to supply help and steering to households to allow them to get their memorials repaired.’