THE group responsible for maintaining Wigton’s cemetery has responded to criticism over its decision to get rid of the curator.

Wigton Joint Burial Committee (WJC) has come under fire over its handling of the grounds and plots, with concerns raised over future maintenance once the current curator’s contact ends on July 31.

The committee has hit back at the accusations, and moved to reassure residents and those with loved ones in the cemetery.

In a statement, the WJC blames a reduction in cash as the motivator behind its actions, claiming Allerdale Council has slashed its funding from £43,956 in 2014/15 to nothing in 2019/20.

“We began developing a business plan last year in consultation with other bodies and this showed we had to reduce expenditure,” the statement continues.

“Raising the council tax and the cost of grave spaces and burials were all options which were considered, but both were not deemed acceptable as they would be too expensive and would not raise the amount of money needed every year if things remained as they were.

“It was therefore decided by the committee that the only other option to look into was making the post of curator redundant as this would save the most money.

“We engaged a firm of solicitors to undertake this process as it is governed very strictly by Employment Law and we had to follow all procedures, policies and the law.

“That process is now complete and, after consulting the solicitor’s report, the decision has been taken by Wigton town council (as the curator’s employer) to make the post of curator redundant. The date of termination of the Curator’s contract is 31st July 2019.

“We cannot discuss the specifics of this publicly as it concerns staffing issues which are completely confidential under Employment Law and GDPR rules.”

A spokesman for Allerdale Council confirmed it had reduced the grant it provided, in line with its devolution of services to parish and town councils.

He said: “Wigton Cemetery is run by Wigton Burial Committee which is made up of three town and parish Council’s Woodside, Waverton and Wigton. The responsibility for it transferred in 1974 and they have managed the cemetery on behalf of local people in the area since then.

“They had received a grant towards the running costs of the cemetery for a number of years which, in line with the council devolving local services down to parish and town councils, Allerdale reduced by 50 per cent and then 100 per cent.

“This allows for the parish and town councils to be fully responsible for the setting of the level of service locally and recovering the costs through the charges for the service i.e. burials and/ or raising a precept locally.”