Graveyard row laid to rest?

Delph chapel graveyard.

TENTATIVE steps have been made to put an end to a heated Saddleworth graveyard row.

A dispute erupted in November after a gate was locked at Delph Independent Chapel, prompting outrage from those wanting to visit graves.

But owner Dr Paula Rothermel has now ensured there is access to the graves as well as posting a contact number for burial inquiries on a sign erected at the cemetery.

It comes after funeral directors were accused of carrying out illegal burials, which has been strongly denied.

Paula, a local widow who inherited the building from her late husband and now lives in Switzerland, has demanded to know how many people have been buried in the cemetery since she took ownership in 2005. David Cook, who took over the Saddleworth Funeral Service in 2000, said his company has conducted only one service there this year.

He said he had to go ahead with the burial without the owner’s permission as he could not track her down. He added: “We only have a short time to sort it out. She had moved away so we went ahead with the burial. I don’t know of any other burials since the building has been under her control. We have since contacted Dr Rothermel and sent her money.”

The chapel has planning permission to be transformed into apartments but the aim is to sell it on to a developer to carry out the work.

Councillor Ken Hulme was a key player in the campaign and whipped up a storm in the village once access was restricted. The parish councillor even offered to buy the land for £2,000 to hand it over to the local community.

He has now welcomed the move to remove a padlock from the gate on Hill End Road. He said: “Hopefully this will be the start of a more constructive relationship between the owner and the local community especially those with relatives buried in the graveyard or who have bought grave plots there.

“I’m hoping that what has gone before is water under the bridge.”

The owner, Paula Rothermel, says it was always her intention to hand the graveyard over to the village.

She says she was never given a definitive list of ownership and says she will need to see official grave deeds as proof from locals who claim to have bought plots.

She added: “The site needs to be regulated, so I need anybody who may have information to contact me if they know about burials that may have taken place without me knowing. None should have happened without my permission and I haven’t seen any money for plots until recently.

“There has been no point where all the entries have been closed off, there was still access through a gate round the corner from the Hill End Road entrance.”

She adds that the graveyard will be handed over once the logistics involving planning permission are addressed.