DEVASTATED relatives are furious at maps published by BAA which show a planned link road passing through a Harlington cemetery.

Documents released as part of BAA's consultation over a proposed third runway at Heathrow Airport contained a map showing a spur road passing over the site of the Cherry Lane Cemetery in Shepiston Lane.

Edna La Mothe, 68, whose husband, Everest, was buried in the cemetery in 2003, said: "Saying I am angry is putting it very lightly. I am furious.

"When I buried him I expected him to be there for an eternity. It is just obscene that such an idea was even thought of.

"When I last went to the cemetery and I was speaking to someone about it, they couldn't believe it was true, they had no idea about it.

"This is somebody I love and for as long as I live I will fight for this."

Mrs La Mothe's daughter, Natasha, found out about the plans two weeks ago and has set up a online petition on the Government's Downing Street website.

She said: "There is one part of me that is appalled because nobody has been made aware of this.

"It is sacred land, you don't just mess it up without a thought of the people buried there and their friends and relatives.

"I am livid and devastated. When my father died, he did not want to be cremated, he wanted to be buried. If he was alive he would be furious."

Donna Casey, a spokesman for BAA, denied the company was planning to build roads through the cemetery.

She said: "The document is not wrong, but shows an indicative layout of where road access schemes could potentially be located if the Government made a decision in favour of a third runway.

"Future road access schemes would be subjected to a detailed design process and transport assessments in partnership with the relevant authorities.

"We apologise if local residents have been distressed by the map, but we can confirm that graves would not be destroyed."

However, Brian Sobey, the chairman of Sipson Residents' Association, said BAA's claims made a mockery of the consultation process.

He said: "They say the map in the consultation paper is indicative, which of course is absolutely pointless for anyone trying to make an objection to it.

"As a consultation document it's a load of rubbish. That's fundamentally ridiculous.

"If you're making a comment on something you should be looking at the images of what's actually going to happen if the plans go through."

Do you have loved ones buried at the cemetery? Leave your comments below: