Damage repaired at Connah's Quay cemetery - so what's next?
Numerous gravestones were damaged, causing 'widespread distress' to families in the local communities.
But, the community of Connah's Quay soon rallied together to address the issue, and in total they have managed to raise a sum of £4,830 to repair the damage caused.
Blackwells Stonemasons, Buckley Memorials and Delyn Memorials joined forces to fix 12 gravestones free of charge, with the money then being used for six more 'substantially damaged' ones to be fixed.
Cllr Dave Richardson, who represents the Golftyn Ward where the cemetery is based, hailed the community spirit shown for helping fix the issue.
He said: "The money that was raised by the community towards repairs after the vandalism was amazing, locals were so generous.
Damage done to gravestones at the Bryn Road cemetery in Connah's Quay. (Image: UGC) "A lot of work was done for free by Blackwells Stonemasons, Buckley Memorials and Delyn Memorials. They all donated free labour which was an absolutely incredible gesture for the families effected."
The next steps to protect the cemetery are now being considered, in order to ensure that level of vandalism does not take place again
TOP STORIES TODAY
Cllr Richardson says the town council has secured £60,000 of funding to have the fencing and railings renewed there.
He added that residents have been suggesting their own ideas in order to keep the site safe.
He said: "We now have money left over which we will be spending the cemetery. The most requested idea is CCTV.
"We would be looking to get our remaining pot fund-matched, then go to Full Circle Security on Connahs Quay High Street to discuss options.
"The fencing is something I have chased for over three years, along with Cllr Bernie Attridge. Even before being elected, it was something that I was passionate about. In my opinion, the cemetery looked neglected.
"But, it does look tidier more recently."
North Wales Police have said that their investigation into the damage caused at the cemetery is currently ongoing. An individual remains on bail.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
12 minutes ago
- BBC News
Birmingham man used firm's Covid money for shopping and days out
A fitness company owner who spent Covid loans for his company at a safari park, restaurants and paying off credit cards has been given a suspended jail Dar, 34, from Birmingham, dishonestly obtained £45,500 in three Covid Bounce Back Loans for his company JDARPT Ltd, when businesses were only entitled to one, the Insolvency Service from the loans was only supposed to be used for the economic benefit of the business. Dar, from Stratford Road, who used some of the funds for legitimate purposes, was sentenced to 20 months in prison suspended for 18 months at Wolverhampton Crown Court, after pleading guilty. He was also ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity and 180 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £2, were made to Amazon and Argos, along with spending at restaurants and meat stores, the Insolvency Service spending was identified at West Midlands Safari Park and making credit card payments, alongside genuine business expenditure. 'Significant sums' Dar deliberately made false representations to fraudulently receive three loans, chief investigator at the Insolvency Service David Snasdell added: "Instead of using this money to support his fitness business through the pandemic as intended, he diverted significant sums for personal spending."Dar made fraudulent applications to three banks for Bounce Back Loans during 2020 for his fitness company, the Insolvency Service first fraudulent application was for a £13,000 loan in May 2020 and in it he claimed the turnover of JDAPRT, which went into liquidation in July 2021, was £55, days later, Dar made a second application to a different bank for £15,000, saying his company's turnover was now £60, third fraudulent application in September was for a loan of £17,500, when he claimed turnover was £70,000. Insolvency Service analysis revealed the company's turnover was closer to £61, admitted three charges of dishonestly making false representation to make gain for self/another or cause loss to another/expose other to Snasdell said: "The Insolvency Service will not tolerate abuse of the public purse and will continue to pursue fraudsters who exploited schemes designed to help legitimate businesses during a national crisis." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Telegraph
18 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Joey Barton to pay £200,000 of Jeremy Vine's legal costs in libel battle
Joey Barton, the former footballer, will pay more than £200,000 of Jeremy Vine 's legal costs after their High Court libel battle, a court has heard. Vine sued Barton for libel and harassment over several online posts, including one in which he falsely called the BBC Radio 2 presenter a 'big bike nonce' and a 'pedo defender' on X, formerly Twitter. The pair settled the claim last year after Barton posted two apologies on the same social media platform and paid a total of £110,000 in damages to Vine, as well as his legal costs. In an agreed statement read out at the High Court in October 2024, barrister Gervase de Wilde, for Vine, said that the broadcaster 'was deeply alarmed, distressed and upset' by Barton's actions, which included a 'persistent and highly damaging campaign of defamation, harassment and misuse of private information'. On Tuesday, a specialist costs court heard that Barton had agreed to pay £160,000 of Vine's costs from the main legal action. Costs Judge Colum Leonard also ordered Barton to pay a further £43,172.30 arising from the negotiation of the £160,000 figure, meaning he will pay a total of £203,172.30 of Vine's fees. Lawyers for Vine told the High Court in May last year that Barton's posts amounted to a 'calculated and sustained attack'. Barton, who played for teams including Manchester City, Newcastle United, Rangers, and French side Marseille during his career, also began using '#bikenonce' on X, which led to it trending on the platform. After Mrs Justice Steyn ruled that some of the posts could defame Vine, Barton apologised to the journalist in June last year, stating that the allegations he made were 'untrue'. He said that he would pay Vine £75,000 in damages, but solicitors for Vine later said Barton would pay a further £35,000 as part of a 'separate settlement' for claims published after legal action began. Mr De Wilde told the October hearing that Barton made four undertakings as part of the settlement, including not to harass Vine or encourage others to do so. Vine said following the hearing that the former footballer 'needs to find himself a different hobby'. 'Excessive and disproportionate' The court on Tuesday was told that Barton agreed to pay £160,000 of Vine's legal costs earlier this month, and that Vine was claiming around £60,000 in costs for negotiating that figure. Suzanne Holmes, for Barton, said this was 'excessive' and 'disproportionate', and should be reduced. Kevin Latham, representing Vine, said Barton had 'repeatedly failed to engage in proper negotiation' throughout proceedings and 'has to bear the consequences of that approach'. Neither Barton nor Vine attended the hearing in London.
Telegraph
18 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Labour-run council to reinstate fines for swearing
A labour-run council intends to reintroduce plans that will allow officers to hand out £100 fines for swearing. Thanet district council said it intended to bring back the ban because police officers had said they struggled to manage antisocial behaviour (ASB) without it. The public space protection order (PSPO) was proposed in July last year, but plans were scrapped after the Free Speech Union threatened legal action against the 'draconian measure'. However, council papers for a meeting on Tuesday revealed that the authority would revisit the controversial scheme that would fine people for 'using foul or abusive language in such a manner that is loud and can be heard by others and cause either alarm or distress'. The plans said: 'There is an ongoing issue of ASB in the Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate areas. 'The PSPO is recognised by all of those working with such behaviour as being one of the effective tools for dealing with this. 'Since [last summer] police report experiencing increased difficulties in managing some of the identified forms of ASB.' Chief Insp Ian Swallow, from Kent Police, wrote a letter of support for the PSPO. He wrote: 'I can confirm that Kent Police support the implementation of a PSPO for the Thanet district and agree with the proposed prohibitions and requirements. '[It] is a necessary measure to reduce crime, disorder, and ASB in the Thanet District, and to provide officers and staff suitable powers to deal with such behaviour.' Among the issues at hand, he highlighted 'swearing and threatening behaviour', 'abusive and foul language' and 'multiple reports from businesses and councillors of street drinkers and young people abusing shopkeepers'. 'Restricting liberties' The Free Speech Union last year said Thanet Council's plan was 'the worst' example they had seen of the misuse of PSPOs. They said at the time: 'It effectively imposes a strict liability speech offence, with none of the safeguards which Parliament and the courts have deemed necessary when restricting people's fundamental rights and liberties.' The penalty for breaking the PSPO is £100 paid within 28 days, or £60 if paid within 14 days. The order also bans anti-social groups, misuse of public space, urinating, defecating or spitting, legal psychoactive substances (such as nitrous oxide), humiliating others and consuming alcohol. The report acknowledges a lot of criticism of the order, including the vague nature of the term 'foul language' and fears of disruption to peaceful protests. It added that there are a 'number of protections' in place to reassure residents that include the defence of 'reasonable excuse' as well as rights to freedom of expression. Cllr Heather Keen, s cabinet member for neighbourhoods at Thanet district council, said: 'We've sadly seen situations in our public spaces recently which have escalated and we know that local people, visitors and businesses want more to be done to tackle this. 'The proposed PSPO aims to reduce antisocial behaviour and provide the vital tools, which are needed to intervene. Without this, the ability of the police to respond to crime and disorder is impacted and crime, in the form of antisocial behaviour, increases. She added: 'The restriction around language is not aimed at preventing free speech or swearing, but foul language that is such to cause fear, distress or alarm.' Council members are expected to discuss the revisited order in the council chamber on July 24. If approved, the PSPO will be in place for three years. The Thanet district council and the FSU have been approached for comment.
