CCTV idea to stop cemetery litter

Dead flowers are piled in a corner of the cemetery

The problem of a litter being left by people visiting a cemetery could lead to CCTV cameras being installed to catch the culprits.

Community councillors say it follows an increase in the problem at Bethel cemetery in Golan near Porthmadog, Gwynedd.

Dolbenmaen community councillor Megan Lloyd Williams said people who left litter were "disrespectful".

She said installing CCTV cameras was an option to addressing the issue.

"People visit this site in a car, and I can't see why they can't take their rubbish home with them," she said.

"We did have a bin at one stage, but Gwynedd County Council charged us �200 a year to empty it, and to be honest it wasn't really helping the situation," she added.

On-going problem

Ms Williams said the problem was made worse because some of the rubbish left behind was blowing into neighbouring fields, where it could harm livestock.

"We've reached the end of our tether," she said.

"I came up here on Friday, and then on Saturday, and things were as bad as ever.

"I can't understand why anyone would do this.

"We've decided to make one last push to get the message across then if that does not work, we'll install the closed circuit television camera," she added.

Plastic bags and rotting flowers are also stuffed in around the water butt

Dolbenmaen community council chairman Dic Parry said the he was at a loss as to what could be done about the situation

"This has been going on for a long time," he said.

"If people can carry flowers there, why can't they carry the rubbish away with them," he said.

"It's not just flowers either, it's plastic bags, oasis [for flower arrangements] and wreaths."

The community council looks after five cemeteries, but Bethel is the largest, and most problematic.

"Another problem is that some of the rubbish gets blown into surrounding fields, and garden plants can be poisonous to livestock," Mr Parry added.

The cost of clearing the rubbish - and any compensation to local farmers who lose livestock - is the responsibility of Dolbenmaen community council.

"It's not just the cost either, it makes the place look very untidy," he said.

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