Call for council to reconsider decision to close gates into Coosan Cemetery

Following the council's recent decision to close the gates to cars into Coosan Cemetery outside of core working hours, Cllr Paul Hogan has called on it to reconsider this decision and to extend the opening time until 8pm.

Cllr Hogan explained that this has made it difficult for some people to visit their loved ones as the gates are closed at 6pm to vehicles, and said his own father is reliant on his siblings to bring him to the cemetery. “There’s people actually going as far as a wall and looking in over and saying a prayer at the wall and getting back in the car and heading off because of mobility issues.”

His call came after Westmeath County Council ended weekend vehicular access at Coosan Cemetery and restricted car access at other times during the week. Pedestrian access is available at all other times.

The Independent councillor added that there is second gate which he suggested could be left open in the interim as a compromise. “I would hope that maybe it would be an opportunity to open that gate with longer evenings coming in with more and more people wanting to visit the cemetery.”

Cllr Hogan said that people could pull their cars in there as there’s a wide open space to park cars and then walk a short distance to that side of the cemetery. He continued: “As it is at the minute, there are people being prevented from visiting the graves of their loved ones.”

Cllr Hogan added that it wasn't “good enough” to ask people to say a prayer over a wall instead of standing at somebody’s grave.

Cllr John Dolan supported the motion and highlighted that some people who visit the cemetery are elderly and have mobility issues so he thinks that the council should be open to the idea particularly when there’s a very “good solution” to the problem.

Cllr Aengus O'Rourke seconded the motion but said that it was a “tricky one.” He said that he received phone calls in recent years from families whose headstones had been damaged and they were upset and angry that that would happen.

“I think at the same time if we think a little bit about this, there must be a solution to allowing cars entry in a way that they wouldn't damage headstones and I think kerbing or whatever could be deployed there to protect what's there,” said Clllr O'Rourke.

The Fianna Fáil councillor added that they have to make cemeteries accessible to people with all levels of mobility instead of having people in wheelchairs lifted across stone pathways. “More often than not, let's be real, elderly people more than young people visit graveyards and quite often they have mobility issues.”

Cllr O'Rourke concluded: “I think we also have to make all of the graveyard accessible to people of all standards and ability.”

Cllr Frankie Keena said that opening the second gate could be an “interesting solution” to the problem in Coosan and that it was “essential” that the cemetery stay open till nine or ten o'clock at night coming into the summer months.

Acting Director of Services Ambrose Clarke said that members were aware of the reason why the decision was taken to close the gates into Coosan cemetery.

Mr Clarke stated: “My understanding is that whatever way we go forward, money would have to be found to do something so if it’s using that gate or the suggestion that Cllr O’Rourke had that we all be involved in doing something to stop something happening, there’s still a lot required to find the right solution here.”

He concluded that the council has observed this probem in other graveyards too.

In response to the motion, the council stated: “As advised to the members, the recent decision to close the cemetery to traffic outside of core working hours was taken in response to the regular striking and damaging of private plots by vehicles, resulting in upset and difficulty for families.”