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| Ancient gravestones used as footpath | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Gravestones from an ancient churchyard are being used as a footpath. | Gravestones from an ancient churchyard are being used as a footpath. |
| Clophill Heritage Trust, which manages St Mary's Church and graveyard in Clophill, Bedfordshire, said it took "professional advice" to lay them flat. | Clophill Heritage Trust, which manages St Mary's Church and graveyard in Clophill, Bedfordshire, said it took "professional advice" to lay them flat. |
| In a statement, the trust said the stones, which now form part of the Poetry and Peace Path, were moved from their original sites in the 1960s to protect them. | In a statement, the trust said the stones, which now form part of the Poetry and Peace Path, were moved from their original sites in the 1960s to protect them. |
| The move has been called a "grave error" and "disrespectful". | |
| A number of people commented about the "disgraceful" and "disrespectful" path on the BBC Three Counties Radio Facebook page. | A number of people commented about the "disgraceful" and "disrespectful" path on the BBC Three Counties Radio Facebook page. |
| One man said the path, which features poetry from young people, showed an "astonishing lack of respect". | One man said the path, which features poetry from young people, showed an "astonishing lack of respect". |
| He added: "Grave error bearing in mind the villagers were not consulted and many are in uproar after only finding out about it yesterday." | He added: "Grave error bearing in mind the villagers were not consulted and many are in uproar after only finding out about it yesterday." |
| But others were open to the idea, with one person calling it a "great use of these semi-historic bits of stone". | But others were open to the idea, with one person calling it a "great use of these semi-historic bits of stone". |
| Another added: "I think it's a lovely idea but I can understand some families' issue with this, especially if they were not consulted. | Another added: "I think it's a lovely idea but I can understand some families' issue with this, especially if they were not consulted. |
| "I can imagine it's lovely to walk along reading and remembering the wonderful people buried there years ago." | "I can imagine it's lovely to walk along reading and remembering the wonderful people buried there years ago." |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
| Clophill Heritage Trust said that after being moved during the 1960s, the stones were "reset around the perimeter of the churchyard" but have continued to be "a target for anti-social behaviour". | Clophill Heritage Trust said that after being moved during the 1960s, the stones were "reset around the perimeter of the churchyard" but have continued to be "a target for anti-social behaviour". |
| The trust said it had "sought professional advice regarding the best way forward" for the stones, many of which were "in danger of falling". | The trust said it had "sought professional advice regarding the best way forward" for the stones, many of which were "in danger of falling". |
| "Churches regularly reuse old gravestones where the inscription is no longer visible, and we have followed best practice by recording which stones have been placed in each location," it said. | "Churches regularly reuse old gravestones where the inscription is no longer visible, and we have followed best practice by recording which stones have been placed in each location," it said. |
| "The Poetry and Peace Path was seen to be the most appropriate and positive way of keeping and denoting respect for the flat stones without inscriptions." | "The Poetry and Peace Path was seen to be the most appropriate and positive way of keeping and denoting respect for the flat stones without inscriptions." |