IMPROVEMENTS in the look of Wellington Cemetery have been promised after the town council this week took over some day to day care responsibilities.

Council chief executive Dave Farrow said Somerset Council had contracted the Wellington authority with effect from Wednesday (July 1).

It follows a deluge of complaints in the past few years about the condition of the cemetery, which is located in Rockwell Green.

Mr Farrow said: “We are very conscious that concerns are regularly expressed about the maintenance of the cemetery and are committed to delivering a high-quality service there, as we do around the rest of the town.”

People visiting the graves of loved ones had become upset at the state of the burial ground and complained in some instances that they were unable to reach the burial plots because they were so overgrown.

The town council had looked at taking ownership of the cemetery when the financially troubled unitary authority was delegating services to parishes last year in a bid to save money.

But, the Somerset council refused to put right a number of expensive issues and would not cover the initial costs facing the town workforce.

Now, Mr Farrow has told councillors that Somerset has agreed an initial two-year maintenance work contract for the cemetery

Mr Farrow said: “The contract value more than covers our costs.

“The agreement is for 14 cuts a year, but there is flexibility to make additional cuts at our own cost should we wish to do so.

“Ownership and responsibility for the overall management of the cemetery remains with Somerset Council.”

The cemetery, which was opened 150 years ago last year, has more than 2,300 burial plots, and includes 16 Commonwealth War Graves from the 1914 to 1918 First World War and 13 from World War Two of 1939 to 1945.