New path plan at Coventry's London Road cemetery attacked

[dutchman]

A consultation over plans to resurface a three-metre long path near the mass grave in Coventry's London Road cemetery has been launched – less than a month after the rest of it was covered in asphalt.


Mike Logan at the London Road Cemetery memorial

Signs have been put up around the grave, where more than 800 civilian victims of the Coventry Blitz are buried, announcing the opportunity for the public to discuss plans to resurface a tiny stretch of path in front of the memorial.

It’s the first time residents have been given the chance to comment on changes to the war graves despite the fact that last month all the paths were covered in asphalt.

Mike Logan, whose parents are buried in the cemetery, called the latest proposal “ridiculous”.

“Why couldn’t they have a consultation before they made such a mess?” the 77-year-old said. “Years ago disabled people came down here in wheelchairs and they didn’t have any problems, then this happened.

“I’m still angry about this. The paths have got even wider too, which means that they must be incredibly close to, or already on, the graves themselves.”

The original work was described by Conservative group leader Kevin Foster as “a bodged job, cobbled together in a hurry, with no respect for the wishes of those whose loved ones are buried there.”

Responding to the consultation he said: “This issue seems to be going from the sublime to the ridiculous.

“I’m pleased that the council is now asking for the views of Blitz survivors and those whose loved ones are buried in the communal grave.

“But it’s mind boggling that they are only talking about a three-metre bit of land. I hope they are going to extend the consultation to cover the whole of the grave area.”