The condition of Tottenham Park cemetery has led to a parliamentary debate on the running of private cemeteries.
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Tottenham Park Cemetery, in Enfield, has been a culturally significant graveyard for London’s Turkish Cypriot community since the 1960s. It was once one of the only cemeteries in London that permitted Muslim burials.
The cemetery soon became the main burial place for Turkish Cypriots living in the city, which in 2011 numbered an estimated 300,000 people.
Those with loved one’s buried in Tottenham Park have taken up a battle against the private owners, Badgehurst Ltd. They have been accused of digging up graves to make space in the already full cemetery, and of failing to meet health and safety standards.
These bones were found by families whilst voluntarily cleaning the cemetery in 2015.
Lack of Health and Safety in Cemeteries
At a public town meeting, families raised their concerns with the cemetery. They claimed the owners had “desecrated graves” and were “concerned with only making money… who will dig up our loved ones to make money.”
Complaints centred around the fact that whilst paying £4,000 per plot, plus a further £76 a year, they feel no maintenance is performed by Badgehurst.
Baroness Meral Ece, who is leading the campaign, told City News she was concerned with “the lack of health and safety, safe paths, security.”
“It’s so crowded and badly maintained, it’s virtually impossible for most of us to get to the graves of our loved ones. It’s a health hazard to walk around.”
Baroness Meral Ece
We approached Badgehurst Ltd asking for a response to these allegations, but they chose not to comment.
Little Regulation
Because the cemetery is privately owned, families and campaigners claim they have faced problems forcing the owners to take action. This is partly because there is very little legislation regulating private cemeteries.
Meral Ece, with the support of all three Enfield MPs, is taking the issue to Parliament, in an attempt to change the way private cemeteries in London are regulated.
Enfield MP Bambos Charalambous said he would support Baroness Ece in anyway he could, and questioned the current system.
“Could I set up a cemetery? Are there no regulations? Are there no guidelines? Maybe they should look at licensing.”
MP Bambos Charalambous
Baroness Ece claimed that Tottenham Park Cemetery was an example of the very worst that could go wrong under the current system.
Tottenham Park is one of only six private cemeteries left in London. But the complaints raised here, has raised questions over how we regulate such cemeteries.
Tune in to City News at 3:30pm for the full report…
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HeadlinePrivate cemeteries needed new regulations, Baroness claims
Short HeadlinePrivate cemeteries: Parliament debate new regulations
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Tottenham Park Cemetery, in Enfield, has been a culturally significant graveyard for London’s Turkish Cypriot community since the 1960s. It was once one of the only cemeteries in London that permitted Muslim burials.
The cemetery soon became the main burial place for Turkish Cypriots living in the city, which in 2011 numbered an estimated 300,000 people.
Those with loved one’s buried in Tottenham Park have taken up a battle against the private owners, Badgehurst Ltd. They have been accused of digging up graves to make space in the already full cemetery, and of failing to meet health and safety standards.
These bones were found by families whilst voluntarily cleaning the cemetery in 2015.
Lack of Health and Safety in Cemeteries
At a public town meeting, families raised their concerns with the cemetery. They claimed the owners had “desecrated graves” and were “concerned with only making money… who will dig up our loved ones to make money.”
Complaints centred around the fact that whilst paying £4,000 per plot, plus a further £76 a year, they feel no maintenance is performed by Badgehurst.
Baroness Meral Ece, who is leading the campaign, told City News she was concerned with “the lack of health and safety, safe paths, security.”
“It’s so crowded and badly maintained, it’s virtually impossible for most of us to get to the graves of our loved ones. It’s a health hazard to walk around.”
Baroness Meral Ece
We approached Badgehurst Ltd asking for a response to these allegations, but they chose not to comment.
Little Regulation
Because the cemetery is privately owned, families and campaigners claim they have faced problems forcing the owners to take action. This is partly because there is very little legislation regulating private cemeteries.
Meral Ece, with the support of all three Enfield MPs, is taking the issue to Parliament, in an attempt to change the way private cemeteries in London are regulated.
Enfield MP Bambos Charalambous said he would support Baroness Ece in anyway he could, and questioned the current system.
“Could I set up a cemetery? Are there no regulations? Are there no guidelines? Maybe they should look at licensing.”
MP Bambos Charalambous
Baroness Ece claimed that Tottenham Park Cemetery was an example of the very worst that could go wrong under the current system.
Tottenham Park is one of only six private cemeteries left in London. But the complaints raised here, has raised questions over how we regulate such cemeteries.
Tune in to City News at 3:30pm for the full report…
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