Sir,
I and Ruth Roberts, together with a few friends, are trying our best to raise awareness of the impending threat to the Bwlchgwynt Baptist Chapel Graveyard at Cyffig in Eglwyscummin Parish.
Our hope is to raise sufficient local opposition to ensure the graveyard is saved from desecration. We are anxious to raise as much local support as possible in order to try and stop the possible removal of any headstones at the cemetery, which has happened elsewhere under the guise of 'health and safety' legislation where development has taken place.
The graveyard is extremely vulnerable having been sold off by the Welsh Baptist Union Corporation, refused to be listed by CADW and is now awaiting its fate at the hands of a developer.
There is little or no legal protection and what legal measures there are is actively used against it, i.e. 'health and safety', which the English MP, John Mann, recently exposed as a means to an end, usually by contractors, engaged by developers, ensuring their project is a financial success by submitting an inflated adverse report. We'd like local parish councils (Eglwyscummin Community Council in this case) to become more aware, so that when applications by developers are put forward, they can make rational and objective decisions about the merits or otherwise of the planning application. It is to be hoped that armed with realistic insight, they will not be pressured into granting approval for the removal of headstones and the grassing over of the site, simply because of a contractor's adverse report that, according to John Mann, is often completely biased in favour of the developer, exaggerating 'dangers' of the situation.
On Monday, November 12, a group of Bwlchgwynt Graveyard supporters involved in the 'save the graves' campaign, met with Dr. Dai Lloyd and Nerys Evans, two of the Welsh Assembly Members at their offices in Lammas Street, Carmarthen, to discuss our concerns. Both listened carefully to what we had to say and promised to make further enquiries on our behalf by writing to relevant bodies. Hopefully, the publicity will assist our cause so that anyone with relatives buried at Bwlchgwynt can make contact with us.
Keith Bowen,
12 Ashley Gardens, Codsall, Wolverhampton, WV8 1AX.