Work to fix flooding of Walsall baby graves 'will start within months'
Work to fix flooding issues that left baby graves submerged in water at a Walsall cemetery should start within months, council bosses have reassured grieving families.
Council leader Mike Bird said the project to install a new drainage system at North Walsall Cemetery has gone out to tender and a contractor will be appointed to start work.
The authority said recent poor weather had exasperated the issues at the cemetery, which prompted outcry from heartbroken families.
Leanne Halls-Albutt, who buried her son Ruben there last month after his heart suddenly stopped when she was 21 weeks pregnant, posted pictures on social media to highlight the problem.
She said parents were unable to grieve for their babies properly, erect headstones or place tributes such as flowers and teddy bears because they would get wrecked in the water.
Labour councillor Matt Ward, who represents the Blakenall ward, criticised the council for not carrying out the work sooner.
Councillor Bird said officers have apologised directly to Mrs Halls-Albutt and the funding for the work has now been approved.
And he denied suggestions the council was not going to provide funding for the project, which was placed on a capital projects reserve list, as part of this year’s budget.
The cemetery was built on a glacial till in 1996 and the council said clay soil can cause drainage issues on the site, especially when there is heavy rainfall.
Councillor Bird said: “We have gone out to tender and we are now looking to appoint a contractor to do the work, which should be done in the next few months.
“As soon as the issue came to light Councillor Garry Perry (portfolio holder for cemeteries crematoria) made a plea to me straight away.
“It was on the reserve list for capital projects and when it was brought to my attention, I put it on the main capital programme and immediately put it out to tender.
“It is simply not true to say we were not going to do this and it is reprehensible that some would try to politicise this.
“Senior officers have contacted parents directly to apologise. We have got to be sensitive to the needs of the families.”
Last week, Mrs Halls-Albutt said: “It’s heartbreaking. Like we haven’t been through enough and we have to come and see that. It’s not acceptable. We want to come and grieve. It’s disgusting.”
