IN PARTICULAR, Tottenham Park Cemetery in Montagu Road, where many Turkish Cypriots and Muslim communities are buried faces a major challenge. According to Enfield Independent Newspaper, it was claimed that old graves were excavated, the remains were removed and the pot then sold as a new burial site. After this incident, it caused concern for many family members with love one buried there. After many news reports were shared in the local newspapers, the important names of the UK expressed their reactions about the issue and started to convey their complaints to the necessary authorities.
Baroness Meral Hussein Ece from the House of Lords made a statement on the alramly issues, writing an urgent letter to Enfield Council about the situation. Baroness Ece made the following statements: “I’m writing to you with regards to the Tottenham Park Cemetery in Montagu Road, N18 2NF. I visit my family graves on a regular basis, along with hundreds of other members of the public. As you will be aware, this cemetery has served as a burial ground for the mainly Turkish Cypriot and Muslim communities for several decades. It is now completely full, in a terrible state of neglect and disrepair, overgrown and dangerous for members of the public who visit, particularly older and disabled people, and a health hazard… Trees have never been cut back, and have frequently fallen down in storms, and enormous weeds are now out of control, and in addition, I have seen a considerable amount of illegal Japanese knotweed allowed to flourish and grow profusely… My cousin, an Enfield resident, contacted the Council recently and was informed this was not a matter for the council, but the Environment Agency, when she contacted the Environment Agency, she was told it was a local authority matter… These are just a few of the main issues that hundreds of local residents and the wider Turkish community, have been campaigning about for many years. I’m told that because it’s a private burial ground, they’ve been advised that there’s nothing the Council can do. But I am advised this is not the case, and asking that this is now looked into as a matter of urgency, as an enforcement matter. It is clear that all further burials must cease, in what is a scandal. ” After Ece’s letter, its expect Enfield Council will carry out an investigation to the issues raised and explainsion is expected.
