John McDonnell MP in bid to protect cemeteries (From Hillingdon Times)

John McDonnell MP in bid to protect cemeteries

2:11pm Wednesday 31st March 2010

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JOHN McDonnell, MP for Hayes & Harlington (Lab), has tabled a motion in Parliament to secure greater protection for local cemeteries.

The move was promted following the distress caused to local families from the threat to Cherry Lane cemetery resulting from BAA’s plans for a road through the cemetery.

Mr McDonnell said: “I have been working with members of the Save Cherry Lane Cemetery Campaign to see how we can secure greater protection for cemeteries against the threat of major developments such as roads, railway lines and new buildings. We are now confident that we have fought off the threat to our local cemetery but we do not want to risk BAA or any other body threatening us again.

"At the same time we want to help others who in the future might also be threatened in this way in the future. That is why we have launched a campaign in Parliament to press the Government for a swift review of the existing laws to protect cemeteries and to bring forward proposals for a reform of the legislation to give greater protection and security.

"We do not want to have to go through all the distress again of the threat to our cemetery and we do not want others to go through this either.”

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