A FUNERAL director has criticised the filthy state of a cemetery, saying he and a grieving family got so muddy they felt more like they had left a building site than a place of rest.
Patrick Ryan, of Patrick Ryan and Daughter, was disgusted at the state of Greenford Park Cemetery, in Windmill Lane, Greenford, when he attended a burial between Christmas and the new year.
He did not give the exact date at the request of the family, who did not want to be identified, but said: "It was disgusting.
"They hadn't even swept the road after digging the grave and it was covered in muck. They could've put mats down where the family were standing but they didn't even do that.
"This particular family wanted to lower the coffin themselves and the tapes (used to lower it) were filthy. When I spoke to the cemetery manager she said she had no hot water to clean them.
"When we came out it was like we'd visited a building site. I had to change my clothes, clean my shoes and wash the cars. The family had to do the same; it was very upsetting for them."
Ealing Council, which manages the cemetery, said it had done everything possible to mitigate the effects of the bad weather and that the burial had been arranged at short notice.
Mr Ryan said the original date had been changed because it coincided with an ashes burial at the site. The council had later allowed the double booking after an appeal.
He added that the cemetery had been badly managed for years and said: "We were in Gunnersbury Cemetery about the same time and Harrow the following day and came out almost as clean as we went in. Ealing Council need to clean up their act."
A council spokesman said: "Unlike many other councils across the country, we have not closed our cemeteries, and have continued to offer burial services during Christmas week and throughout the severe weather.
"We made the arrangements for this burial at very short notice on the insistence of the funeral director and did advise him that the bad weather had made the ground very muddy.
"Our staff continue to work hard to minimise the disruption caused by the cold and wet conditions, to enable families to bury their loved ones with dignity."
