A local newsagent has set up a campaign to improve the 'disgraceful state' of a Paisley cemetery.
Desmond Barr has been left 'horrified' by the state of the Renfrewshire Council-owned Hawkhead Cemetery where several members of his family are buried, including his mum and dad.
The 61-year-old is looking to set up a group to act on behalf of visitors who shared his concerns.
He's calling for potholes on the roads throughout the cemetery to be repaired, the pathways to be cleaned, regular grass cutting and for the council to inform families about the toppling of relatives gravestones.
Desmond said: “We’re certainly not criticising the cemetery staff because there are so few of them and they are fighting a losing battle trying to keep the cemetery tidy.
“The state the cemetery is in just now is disrespectful to the people who are buried there – they may be gone, but they are certainly not forgotten.
“It is a place that brings many emotions to the surface, but the last thing people should feel is anger, disappointment or disgust at the neglected and untidy state of the final resting place of their departed family.
“Sadly, the cemetery looks extremely neglected and even vandalised the way the council has gone about toppling headstones because they say they are following Scottish Government guidelines and headstones are in a dangerous state.
“Everyone buried at Hawkhead were once part of the community and were dearly loved by family and friends. The state of the cemetery doesn’t reflect this.”
He added: “I regularly visit my mum and dad’s grave and people I talk to who are also visiting the cemetery are all saying the same thing – that it’s in a disgraceful state and something needs to be done about it.
“One lady said to me that her mum, who is buried at Hawkhead, was very house proud and always kept her home meticulously neat and tidy and her mum would be affronted to think that her final resting place was in such a state.”
Desmond says his idea of having a Friends of Hawkhead Cemetery group is to give people a voice and represent the families of the people buried there.
He continued: “I want to find out if there are others who share my concerns and want the council to make the cemetery a more presentable and proper place where we can remember and pay our respects to our relatives who have passed on.”
“My idea is that a Friends of Hawkhead Cemetery group would find out what concerns people have, what improvements are needed, then make representations to Renfrewshire Council and campaign to get something done to improve the state of the cemetery.
“If there are enough people interested, then I would be willing to take the next steps in setting up a Friends of Hawkhead Cemetery group and organise a meeting to bring everyone together.”
Anyone interested in joining the Friends of Hawkhead Cemetery group are asked to email Desmond on friendsofhawkheadcemetery@gmail.com.
