Cemetery upgrade going ahead

SET IN STONE: What the new entrance for Archer St cemetery will look like. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Entrance to get makeover as planned

Council say they have received only two letters from the public expressing concerns about plans to upgrade the Archer St cemetery entrance, within Queen Elizabeth Park, and are now going to push ahead, despite objections from councillor Gary Caffell.

In a Masterton District Council meeting on Wednesday deputy mayor Jane Terpstra said since council had asked for public feedback on pillars, which are the same design as elsewhere in the cemetery, and wing walls for the entrance, only two people had written in and both discussed where the cemetery gates would be, which was a separate issue.

Mrs Terpstra called the issue of the type of pillars a "little bit of a non-issue".

"It is pretty ugly [the entrance] and I think most people would say yes we need to upgrade that entrance."

Mrs Terpstra moved that council install the pillars, as illustrated in the plan, and was supported by Judith Callaghan.

Councillor Gary Caffell voted against the motion and Graham McClymont abstained.

"I couldn't agree less, I've had about 19 calls from people, they said why go to the council because they don't take any notice. [I'm] feeling not necessarily that they wouldn't look good but just that there should be some consultation ... it's not going to cost us anything," Mr Caffell said. His motion that council formally consult on the pillars and wing walls was not supported.

Councillor Pip Hannon said there were "more important things to spend council time, and money, consulting on".

The cost for the work, inclusive of the new entrance signs, will be about $8000.