Nunhead Cemetery closed until further notice

[KidKruger]

FYI.

Signs on the gates saying closed until further notice.

I asked the guy locking gates why - he doesn?t know why, just following orders.

He did say that he thinks this is happening with all the cemeteries, but I haven?t verified that myself.

[lameduck]

possibly one of the safest walks to be had

when walking around there about 3 weeks back noticed a lot of graves 1918-20

not military, civilian, wondered how many of those, lots were youngsters 20-40

died of the spanish flu pandemic

[JohnL]

?This will help make the area safer for grieving family and friends, at an incredibly difficult time,? Southwark Council said although other websites imply this is part of the emergency legislation.

I think it's also not seen as appropriate for dog walks and exercise to be taking place in cemeteries at present (my words). I did find the below from a day or so ago.

https://www.sthelensreporter.co.uk/health/coronavirus/st-helens-residents-told-not-use-cemeteries-exercise-after-joggers-and-dog-walkers-flocked-facility-2520753

[malumbu]

Shame. They've also closed Camberwell new cemetery. Both nice places to walk and enough space for social distancing.

[KidKruger]

Would like to know the reason formally given for this.

The 'grieving families' thing is illogical, how are they more vulnerable than other cemetery users ?

All it does is concentrate an already compromised population into fewer open spaces.

I wonder what consequences that will have.

Any Einsteins out there care to take a guess ?

[pk]

KidKruger Wrote:

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> Would like to know the reason formally given for

> this.

> The 'grieving families' thing is illogical, how

> are they more vulnerable than other cemetery users

> ?

grieving families (who maybe elderly themselves) attending funerals will not be exposed to people out for a walk or a run, I suppose

> All it does is concentrate an already compromised

> population into fewer open spaces.

but people are supposed to be indoors unless shopping for essentials or execising (mainly) and a cemetery isn't meant for either of those (altho I accept that nunhead cemetery can be a nice place for a walk)

> I wonder what consequences that will have.

> Any Einsteins out there care to take a guess ?

I'd guess none, as you point people failing to social distance is mostly because they e.g. don't make the effort to run round you not because of overcrowding

[malumbu]

From my observations in the last week or so the local cemeteries have not been overrun with walkers. In part as we have plenty of places to walk and cycle. We are encouraged to exercise. Nunhead cemetery is a great place to do this. Shame.

[KidKruger]

Most of the people that use Nunhead are individuals, couples, families, dog walkers.

They effectively police the place through their numbers and regular presence - there's no police or security there.

To make out that these people are somehow interfering with graveside visitors is inconsistent with what goes on day-to-day there.

I look forward to reading a meaningful and coherent reason (but not holding breath).

[pk]

KidKruger Wrote:

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> Most of the people that use Nunhead are

> individuals, couples, families, dog walkers.

> They effectively police the place through their

> numbers and regular presence - there's no police

> or security there.

> To make out that these people are somehow

> interfering with graveside visitors is

> inconsistent with what goes on day-to-day there.

> I look forward to reading a meaningful and

> coherent reason (but not holding breath).

you think that we're living regular 'day-to-day' life?s

and that walking in a cemetery is essential?

[KidKruger]

I'm not sure how you can construe that I think we're living in regular times, pk.

If the cemetery (mainly the space is disused and overgrown, as I'm sure you know) has been predominantly used for decades as I've described above, why change that now ?

Doesn't make sense and there's no sensible reason given yet.

Walking in a cemetery isn't essential, walking in a park isn't essential, walking isn't essential.

Have you an actual point ? Sorry if I've missed it.

[JohnL]

There are a few obvious things we could speculate - but it's not really right to do so and the only reasons given by the government and the council (it's across the UK it seems) is the ones above.

[pk]

KidKruger Wrote:

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> I'm not sure how you can construe that I think

> we're living in regular times, pk.

It was the ?day to day? comment

> If the cemetery (mainly the space is disused and

> overgrown, as I'm sure you know) has been

> predominantly used for decades as I've described

> above, why change that now ?

I think the answer is the virus and the associated guidance

> Doesn't make sense and there's no sensible reason

> given yet.

> Walking in a cemetery isn't essential, walking in

> a park isn't essential, walking isn't essential.

> Have you an actual point ? Sorry if I've missed

> it.

I agree walking for no reason is not essential but the guidance allows for exercise

The point is closing the cemetery is in line with other closures like tennis courts (which day to day are used for exercise)

What?s your point?

[susan_]

The sign I saw today around 3pm indicated the Nunhead cemetery was closed today for a funeral ( only mourners allowed in for the service)....I had presumed from that sign that it would be open again after, but I didn?t think to take a photo of the sign.

I?ll post again if tomorrow?s exercise takes me that way again

[maxxi]

There are signs up on the (closed) gates of Camberwell Old Cemetery saying it is closed because of the Coronavirus, social-distancing etc. and will now only be open for funerals by order of Southwark Council.

[KidKruger]

"The point is closing the cemetery is in line with other closures like tennis courts (which day to day are used for exercise)"

I disagree. The decision to close Nunhead cemetery except for funerals is completely NOT in line with also closing tennis courts. They are different utilities entirely !

If they're gonna close Nunhead, that's like closing a park utility.

Parks are open, Nunhead should too - both public spaces.

Nunhead's main use is not funerals, by a country mile.

Like I said, this forces same population to seek their collective exercise in a reduced total available area - surely an increased risk of infection (certainly won't reduce risk of infection).

[pk]

KidKruger Wrote:

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> "The point is closing the cemetery is in line with

> other closures like tennis courts (which day to

> day are used for exercise)"

>

> I disagree. The decision to close Nunhead cemetery

> except for funerals is completely NOT in line with

> also closing tennis courts. They are different

> utilities entirely !

> If they're gonna close Nunhead, that's like

> closing a park utility.

> Parks are open, Nunhead should too - both public

> spaces.

> Nunhead's main use is not funerals, by a country

> mile.

> Like I said, this forces same population to seek

> their collective exercise in a reduced total

> available area - surely an increased risk of

> infection (certainly won't reduce risk of

> infection).

Inevitably you?ll disagree, but a cemetery is fundamentally different to a random park

And generally the open expanses in parks allow better for social distancing than paths next too graves particularly if people are already congregating for a funeral

Why are so certain it won?t reduce infection risk?

[Renata Hamvas]

It's a directive from the government to all local authorities. All Cemeteries nationally are being closed.

Renata

[pk]

Renata Hamvas Wrote:

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> It's a directive from the government to all local

> authorities. All Cemeteries nationally are being

> closed.

> Renata

I?m not surprised by that

[KidKruger]

PK: Why are so certain it won?t reduce infection risk?

From my last post: "Like I said, this forces same population to seek their collective exercise in a reduced total available area - surely an increased risk of infection (certainly won't reduce risk of infection)."

Anyway Renata has advised why now, so job done.

[pk]

KidKruger Wrote:

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> PK: Why are so certain it won?t reduce infection

> risk?

>

> From my last post: "Like I said, this forces same

> population to seek their collective exercise in a

> reduced total available area - surely an increased

> risk of infection (certainly won't reduce risk of

> infection)."

>

> Anyway Renata has advised why now, so job done.

So you?re quoting yourself to prove that you?re right?

But as you say Renata has told us that informed experts disagree so job done

[Frankito]

And you?ve always got to have the last word... enough already Petty Betty ffs..

pk Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> KidKruger Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > PK: Why are so certain it won?t reduce

> infection

> > risk?

> >

> > From my last post: "Like I said, this forces

> same

> > population to seek their collective exercise in

> a

> > reduced total available area - surely an

> increased

> > risk of infection (certainly won't reduce risk

> of

> > infection)."

> >

> > Anyway Renata has advised why now, so job done.

>

> So you?re quoting yourself to prove that you?re

> right?

>

> But as you say Renata has told us that informed

> experts disagree so job done

[pk]

Frankito Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> And you?ve always got to have the last word...

> enough already Petty Betty ffs..

>

>

Sorry for responding to a post on an Internet forum

Thanks for your useful contribution

Feel free to have the last word

[KidKruger]

Not sure what you are saying pk - I was just answering your own question, again: "Why are so certain it won?t reduce infection risk?".

I had literally just said why, so pasted the information again, rather than retyping.

Perhaps I misunderstood, apologies if so.

[JohnL]

It's Northern Ireland but it gives you some idea of the issues here

https://news.causewaycoastcommunity.co.uk/ni-news/video-grim-reality-of-coronavirus-pandemic-major-grave-digging-operation-at-cemetery/

[KidKruger]

Thanks John, that look like a greenfield cemetery with ample space for many more graves.

Nunhead is definitely not !