Barriers eyed for cemeteries | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

Council officers are costing out barrier gates for two cemeteries in Masterton after a plague of vandalism attacks on the graveyards.

Rosanne Heyes, the Masterton District Council parks and recreation officer, said council workers had cleared and cleaned up damage at both the Archer St and River Rd
 cemeteries that was left after a spate of attacks in past weeks.

She said most of the wreckage was the remains of vases and floral tributes and there did not seem to have been many, if any, vandalism attacks launched on headstones.

Grant Hathaway, Masterton District Council parks and recreation manager, had told the Times-Age that trees had been uprooted at the graveyards and fences toppled in
the attacks.

Ms Heyes said council workers had viewed the entrances to both cemeteries on Monday to establish where barrier gates could be placed and any landscaping that would also
be needed.

She said plans were now being drawn up and costings established.

A Masterton man, who declined to be named, had alerted council staff after his daughter was left distraught after finding her stillborn baby's grave ``stomped'' along with
other plots on a visit a fortnight ago.

Mr Hathaway earlier said should barrier gates be installed, they would likely be locked at night.