LOCALS have raised concerns with the council after grass cuttings were left at Barnsley Cemetery - leaving those paying their respects frustrated.

Much of the grass was left at the cemetery, while large parts of the area also remained uncut.

It resulted in locals complaining on social media that more needs to be done to ensure the area is upkept.

Concerns were also passed onto the three Central ward councillors - Nicola Sumner, Janine Moyes and Martin O’Donoghue - who conducted a site meeting alongside the cemetery team at Barnsley Council.

In a joint statement they said: “We are aware of concerns raised by some members of the public regarding grass cutting and maintenance within cemeteries, particularly at Barnsley Cemetery.

“First and foremost, we would like to reassure residents that cemetery teams carry out their work with the utmost professionalism, dignity and respect.

“Cemeteries are sensitive environments, and their staff understand the importance of maintaining them appropriately while respecting the families and loved ones who visit.

“Managing cemetery grounds across the borough is a significant undertaking.

“Their teams are responsible for maintaining 22 cemeteries and 15 closed churchyards, including large sites such as Barnsley Cemetery, which covers approximately 60 acres.

“Much of this work must be completed using handheld equipment due to the proximity of graves, memorials, flowers and personal tributes, making maintenance both time-consuming and labour-intensive.”

The council accept that the cemetery did look poor after the cut and more will be done to ensure that the site is kept to the highest standard possible.

“The team recognise that some visitors have concerns about grass cuttings and overall appearance,” the councillors added.

“While suggestions such as fully collecting all cuttings may appear straightforward, the scale of our cemetery network means this is not currently achievable with available resources.

“Their teams continue to work additional hours and adapt maintenance schedules wherever possible to improve conditions across all sites.

“As seasonal growth begins to slow in the coming weeks, the team expect to see a gradual improvement in conditions across the cemeteries.

“They appreciate the patience and understanding shown by the vast majority of visitors and remain committed to maintaining our cemeteries to the highest standard possible within the resources available.”

Councillor Paul Kelly, cabinet spokesperson for environment and highways, told the Chronicle: “Barnsley Council understands that cemeteries are sensitive spaces, and our teams carry out their work with care, dignity and respect at all times.

“Grass cutting at Barnsley Cemetery, a 60-acre site, is part of a rolling maintenance programme across the borough’s 22 cemeteries and 15 closed churchyards.

“Recent warm and wet weather has led to increased growth, which can impact how quickly work is completed and how cuttings appear initially.

“Due to the size of the site and the need to work carefully around graves and memorials, some areas can take longer to complete.

“Our teams continue to work hard to maintain all cemeteries to a high standard."