Rauceby

Found this in my local paper this week, It came to light originally in August 2010 after a family went to look at a distant relatives grave and were shocked at the level of neglect and complained to the local parish council.

http://www.sleafordstandard.co.uk/news/who_is_responsible_for_these_forgotten_graves_1_995395

I've spoken to Sharon (mentioned in the article) and she tells me that over the next few months they plan to clear back all the over growth and come to some agreement with the NHS ( still owns it) about maintaining it. I'm hoping I can get something more as David Wilson Homes and the council have virtually removed it from the map, there is no reference to Rauceby within the site, even less when Orchard House closes in September and the Guinea Pig Club plaque is removed, to where I don't know

Neglected graves still unclaimed by councils


Published on Monday 25 April 2011 14:32

EIGHT months on and still the graves at an old hospital site are being neglected, with no-one taking responsibility.

It was reported in the Standard back in August 2010 that the graves at the former Rauceby Hospital site have been abandoned, and still no-one is taking charge of their upkeep.

Mark Buswell, from Aberdeen, commented on the sad state of the graves after he and his family travelled down from Scotland to visit his grandfather’s grave at the site.

The hospital site is now the new Greylees village, but David Wilson Homes, who develop the Greylees village, North Kesteven District Council and the NHS have all denied ultimate responsibility for the small overgrown cemetery.

When a churchyard is closed, an official closure application can be made by a parish or church council, which would then divert responsibility of its upkeep to the district council. However, NKDC has denied any such application has been made for the Rauceby site and the mystery continues.

Sharon Bark, Community Initiatives Manager at NKDC said: “Although the district council is not directly responsible for the Rauceby graveyards, we are working towards an initial clean-up of the site, with a long term plan to maintain the area with the help of volunteers and other resources that can be made available.

“We are appealing to the local community to come forward with any information they may have on the graveyards, in order to help us further research the area and preserve it in the best way possible.”

The site falls within the boundary of Wilsford, but the Parish Council was unavailable for comment.

stevejd said:

When a churchyard is closed, an official closure application can be made by a parish or church council, which would then divert responsibility of its upkeep to the district council. However, NKDC has denied any such application has been made for the Rauceby site and the mystery continues.

Click to expand...

Given the vast quantities of paperwork and time which this type of application consumes (I speak from past experience), NKDC probably couldn't lose a correctly-made application if it has received one. Parish and church councils have responsibility for municipal and sacred cemeteries, but I'm pretty certain that a private cemetery (such as one owned by the NHS) would have to initiate the process themselves. At first glance I would suspect a balls-up by the NHS, who should have made the application as soon as the Rauceby closure started or, at least, liaised with and overseen the process through the parish council.

This sort of thing does irritate me. I'm turning into a grumpy old man.

I suspect your last thought is most probable, some one at NHS Estates who has no real idea as to what was at Rauceby, this resulting in the two cemetaries being ovelooked and no paperwork being completed

stevejd said:

I suspect your last thought is most probable, some one at NHS Estates who has no real idea as to what was at Rauceby, this resulting in the two cemetaries being ovelooked and no paperwork being completed

Click to expand...

What I don't understand is why there is so much confusion as to who did or didn't do what. The first stage of the process was, and presumably still is, to apply to the Home Office for permission to apply (yes, really!). A quick FOI request for all closure applications made for Lincolnshire cemeteries in the last N years should show whether the process was ever initiated - and if it was, who started it.

obviously common sense didn't apply in 1997, sometimes it takes an embarrasing complaint to get things going.

I'll keep the thread updated as I hear more.