Work on a run-down Paisley cemetery blighted by potholes has been pushed back to the summer.

Grief-stricken residents and furious councillors have been complaining about the state of Hawkhead Cemetery for more than two years.

Repair work was originally planned to be carried out during the spring.

But Renfrewshire Council has confirmed £500,000 worth of works to overhaul the drainage and road surfaces will start in July and should be finished by November.

Fed up Janice Murphy, whose mother was laid to rest in the cemetery in Hawkhead Road, said she has heard it all before.

So much so, the 60-year-old says she doesn’t know if she can go anymore.

“It is such a state that I’ve lost the heart to go up there,” Janice said.

“Where my mum’s grave is, it’s very bad.

“My husband has to reverse the car to get right up to it. It was a horrible feeling and I thought, I can’t do this any more.”

Janice normally visits the cemetery on her mum’s birthday in October, at Christmas and Easter, and on Mother’s Day.

However, she plans to have a chat with her family on whether they can face going up next Sunday.

She added: “Apart from everything else, it’s an accident waiting to happen. Half a million pounds has been quoted and we’ve been told work will commence shortly but I’ve heard it before.

“We will see if it happens. When we actually see the works start, that’s when we’ll
believe it.”

The issue was raised at the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board by Councillor Carolann Davidson.

She said: “It’s shocking and people need it done sooner rather than later.”

However, board convener Councillor Cathy McEwan assured her: “It will be done.”

Renfrewshire Council said the contract for the works will be going out to tender later this month, with work anticipated to begin in July.

It’s estimated that works will be completed by November of this year.

A spokeswoman for the local authority said: “We are investing £500,000 in Hawkhead cemetery to improve the drainage and road surfaces.

“To date we have undertaken investigations focusing on installing new drainage within the cemetery to address flooding concerns and this summer will commence work to improve drainage, path and road infrastructure.

“This forms part of a £1 million investment to improve the infrastructure of our nine cemeteries across Renfrewshire.”