Families’ fury as crosses are removed from Blaenavon graves

Blaenavon resident John Breeze was on holiday in Tenby when he heard the news. He said: “I came home straight away. My daughter Joanne went to the grave of my daughter Denise and was upset to find that the wooden cross had been removed.

“I was deeply upset that someone would remove the cross. I’m disgusted that the council would do that as that plot is mine.”

Mr Breeze explained that the cross had been on his daughter’s grave for 45 years, so he can’t understand why it has beenmoved now.

He discovered that the crosses were being stored in a shed in Panteg, so he went and collected his daughter’s one and informed other locals of where they were.Headded: “Since, the council have apologised but now they do not know to which grave each cross belongs and some have been broken.” He is now calling for the person who ordered the removal of the crosses to be sacked.

Another Blaenavon resident, Vernon Gedney, was upset after discovering that his mother-in-law’s cross had been removed. He said: “It’s disgusting, they should never have removed them. There were piles and piles of crosses in Panteg. Its been distressing for people as they think that it’s vandals who have stolen them, so the truth needs to be told.”

A council spokesman said: “The council fully accepts this has caused distress to the families concerned and apologises to everyone affected by this error. Wooden crosses are commonly used temporarily until the ground is ready for a permanentmemorial.

The council’s current policy is to remove temporary crosses after 12 months and the bereaved are informed of the policy.

However, in this instance a number of memorial crosses which had been in place for many years were removed from Blaenavon cemetery in error. As a result of this, the council will review its current policy and replace all of the crosses removed.”

Councillor Alan Jones urged families with concerns over the issue to contact him on 01495 790477.