Disbelief at cemetery arson (From This Is Local London)

Disbelief at Marlow Cemetery arson

3:20pm Saturday 11th February 2012 in Where I Live

'MINDLESS' vandals who started a blaze in Marlow cemetery have prompted disgust and disbelief from leading Marlovians.

The fire at the Wethered Road site, which happened on Friday February 3, has been described as deliberate arson by police.

Firefighters reached the blaze before it could spread and were praised for their swift actions.

A tree and a hedge were damaged but nobody was injured.

Ex-Mayor Maurice Oram said: “It's terrible, it's absolutely awful to have happened at the cemetery.

"I can't understand why anyone would want to do that.”

He hopes elderly residents will not be scared off visiting the cemetery.

Current Mayor Jocelyn Towns said: “It just strikes me just such a completely pointless thing to do, what is anyone trying to achieve in doing something like that?

“It's a mindless act, it's crazy and it's unfair on the people who visit the cemetery.

“It's a quiet thoughtful place to be reflective. We were surprised and we'll be keeping a close eye on it.”

The Mayor praised firefighters for arriving quickly and preventing worse damage being caused.

“The fire service reacted very quickly and had they not it might have been worse,” she said.

“They were brilliant.”

There have been problems with anti-social behaviour, drinking and vandalism at the cemetery in recent years, which prompted an entrance gate to be closed.

Although crime then cleared up, the gate was then reopened after requests from residents.

This is the first incident since.

Stuart Carter, Marlow Town Council Clerk, said: “It should be a place for quiet reflection and obviously, we don't want any anti-social behaviour in our cemetery.

"Generally it's well respected and the crime there seemed to have died down.”

It is unknown yet what costs to repair the damage may be.

Buckinghamshire County Councillor Doug Anson blasted the culprits.

He said there had been many complaints from residents about the gate being locked and that it was a good move to reopen it.

PC Chris Carr, investigating the incident, said: “We believe this was a deliberate act of arson and I am keen to speak to anyone who may have been in the area and witnessed any suspicious activity.”

The news came in the same week as Wycombe District Council announced a £36,000 plan for security fencing at High Wycombe cemetery after desecration of graves last year.

Anyone with any information should contact PC Carr by dialling101.

Or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

- Thames Valley Police said it has arrested two boys – aged 11 and 13 – who have been bailed until March 14.