It has been almost six months of prolonged agony for distraught families of Ayr Cemetery.
A major water ingress probe into graves at South Ayrshire’s largest burial ground has led to council chiefs last week admitting that bodies will have to be exhumed.
In another letter sent to families and seen by Ayrshire Live, council chiefs told grieving relatives that their loved ones could be removed from their resting place in a bid to remove water and reseal graves.
Ayrshire Live this week sent 14 key questions to South Ayrshire Council after we were told an interview with service bosses would not be possible.
In a detailed response cemetery chiefs have lifted the lid on the ongoing crisis unfolding at the Holmston Road cemetery.
They have revealed that the whole extension of the cemetery is affected with all 126 graves feared to have water issues.
Council chiefs have told how lairs have been in place buried in the newest plots at the cemetery for four years.
And they have allayed fears that bodies may have to be moved to a facility in England, with the deceased instead to be placed in a local facility.
Cemetery bosses have also defended their decision not to meet publicly with families throughout the ordeal with letters sent instead from January until May.
But in a U-turn bosses this week started to hold one-to-one private meetings as families desperately searched for answers.
They also answered queries raised in an online petition this week which demanded families be given more time over their decision to exhume loved ones.
The petition set up by families has soared to past its initial target and currently sits at just over 1,100 signatures.
Here is every question and response in full.
Ayrshire Live (AL): Following another letter in which families are told their loved ones' bodies will have to be exhumed, will there be a public or private face to face meeting with families?
South Ayrshire Council (SAC): We know that this has been an extremely distressing time for families and lair owners and we are happy to meet with them on an individual basis to answer any questions. Due to the sensitivity of the matter and the nature of personal information, there are no public meetings at this time. Private, face to face meetings are currently taking place.
(AL): Why has there never been face-to-face contact with families during this process, and why have letters been used to communicate with families?
(SAC): Initial contact was via letter and subsequently telephone calls have also taken place with the families and lair owners. We are now meeting with those affected in person.
(AL): In the last letter issued to families it is said that when bodies are exhumed they will be held in a facility. Can the council confirm or deny that this facility is in England and if this is not the case where will this facility be located. Will the facility be in Ayrshire or further afield?
(SAC): The deceased will be moved to a local facility for several days before they are re-interred.
(AL): How long will the deceased be held in the facility, the statement issued to media on Monday, May 9 suggests the works will take four months and visits will only be allowed one day a week. How can visits take place at the cemetery if there are no graves to visit?
(SAC): The deceased will be in the facility for several days before they are re-interred. We anticipate that a maximum of two or three chambers will be worked on at any one time. The works will then stop to allow the cemetery extension to open every Sunday.
(AL): Following on from an investigation which has taken nearly six months to complete, what are the findings?
(SAC): Water was found to be present in the chambers that were inspected. We carried out a number of tests over a period of time on empty chambers and we have informed families and lair owners that there is now a solution to prevent water from entering the chambers. We will now carry out works to remove the water as quickly as we can and rectify the issue.
(AL): Following on from an investigation how many graves were identified that have water ingress? Previously the council has said on record that 10 were found. It is believed that up to 30 families have been issued with letters regarding exhumations.
(SAC): Following on from the investigatory works in January, unfortunately we now believe that all chambers within the cemetery extension have water issues.
(AL): Is the head of service considering their position as a result of this ongoing crisis?
(SAC): We do not comment on individual members of staff.
(AL): Can you confirm the date that the council were first notified of water ingress?
(SAC): A member of the public alerted us to a potential problem on September 22, 2021.
This was confirmed in January 2022 following the appointment of the specialist contractor to carry out investigatory works.
(AL): Who do the council hold responsible for what has happened and will they be seeking any legal advice/ action on those responsible?
(SAC): We are focussed on resolving the issue and comment on potential legal action would be premature.
(AL): How old are the affected lairs?
(SAC): The oldest lair is 4 years old.
(AL): Will Troon follow the same process as Ayr?
(SAC):We know that this has been an extremely distressing time for families and lair owners and we are doing everything we can to carry out the works as quickly and respectfully as possible.
The works on Troon cemetery extension will follow the same process as Ayr and will commence when the works on Ayr cemetery extension are complete.
(AL): Is the council considering extending the deadline of May 18?
(SAC): If families feel they are unable to respond by Wednesday, May 18, we are happy to give them more time to consider.
(AL): Will the council consider allowing families to put fresh clothes on loved ones, add personal belongings and to hold a reburial service for them.
(SAC): There have been no requests for this at this time. We continue to liaise with families and lair owners and any requests will be discussed on an individual basis.
Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here
