Southern Cemetery Office to Remain Open

10.09.51am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 17th Oct 2006

John Leech, Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington, has welcomed news that the Office at Southern Cemetery is to remain open. However, doubts remain as to the service that will be provided at Southern Cemetery and the future of the clerical jobs based at the Cemetery.

John Leech has hailed the decision of the Council to rule out the office closure, after consulting with staff on closing it, as an example of 'People Power', following an outcry from residents, religious leaders, undertakers and monumental masons.

Over 600 petitions were sent to the MP, many of them collected by local churches.

Now, in a letter to John Leech MP from the Council Officer in charge of Cemeteries, the Council have declared that the cemetery office will remain open.

John said:

"I am certain that the huge public outcry at the Council's plans to close the office, as reported in the South Manchester Reporter, have made them change their minds."

"They could have saved a lot of upset if they had consulted with local religious leaders, undertakers and residents in the first place - then they would have seen how unpopular their crazy plan to close the office was!"

"However, the Council are still refusing to rule out that the clerical jobs based at Southern Cemetery will be moved to Blackley. This makes it unclear what sort of service will be provided at the office at Southern Cemetery."

John Leech MP has now asked for a meeting with the officer in charge to discuss the future at Southern Cemetery.

The Council's original plans to close the office and move the clerical staff came to light when they consulted with staff over the proposal.

A recent meeting of the City Council's Physical Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee discussed Cemeteries as an agenda item. John Leech attended the meeting and raised the issue of Southern Cemetery.

At first some of the Labour Councillors tried to stop any debate on the issue of Southern Cemetery, but this was voted down.

During the debate it was admitted that the only option that had been consulted on with the staff was the option of closing the office and axing the clerical staff.

The Labour Executive Councillor in charge claimed that other options were being considered, but refused to say what they were.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Tony Bethell, who represents Chorlton Park ward which includes Southern Cemetery, said:

"It is obvious that the Labour Council have done a U-Turn in the face of mass opposition to their wrong-headed plan to close the Cemetery Office. Now they are saying that people have been scare mongering! If that was the case why did they consult with the staff and unions over closing the office?"

"The clerical staff at the Cemetery do a wonderful job helping and advising the bereaved in their hour of need. The Council must now re-think their plans to move them away from Southern Cemetery."

Liberal Democrat Councillor Simon Wheale, who chairs the Physical Environment Overview and scrutiny Committee commented:

"The future of the staff and services at Southern Cemetery is by no means clear yet. The Physical Environment Committee will be keeping a close eye on developments."

End