Family members have been left “upset” after they say a road was built over graves in a chapel cemetery.
Planning permission to build a parking area at Bethany Chapel in Newtown, Powys, had been granted, but questions have been raised about an access road allegedly built over up to seven graves.
Dolafon Trust, which is part of Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, said it was “meticulously adhering to the planning consent”.
Members of Jackie Davies’ family are buried in the graveyard in mid Walesand has been leading a campaign to have it restored.
Ms Davies told Sky News that descendants were angry and upset.
“It’s clear that they’ve been disturbed, it’s clear that headstones have got posts [that have] been put through into the graves,” she said.
“It’s all very traumatic, it’s all very disturbing to see. It’s sickening to see.”
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She said the experience had affected her teenage daughters.
“They’ve witnessed bulldozers, diggers and people trampling all over graves with no headstones when we’ve always taught our children you walk around a grave, you don’t walk over a grave,” she said.
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Image: Pic: Jackie Davies
William and Martha White’s graves are two of those under the new road, according to their descendants.
A great-grandson of theirs, who asked not to be named, told Sky News his family was upset.
“We’re obviously upset that their graves have been obliterated,” he said.
“We’re asking for a reinstatement. A stop to the work and reinstatement of the graveyard as it was.”
He called on Powys County Council’s planning department to act quickly and intervene.
“We would like to thank everyone involved in the campaign, Jackie Davies and her family and Councillor Elwyn Vaughan and our Senedd member Mr Cefin Campell,” he added.
Powys county councillor Elwyn Vaughan told Sky News six or seven graves had been impacted.
“In terms of the work done, they had planning permission to do a new car park on new land, farm land, next to the chapel,” he said.
“But that is quite a different location, especially the access, to what has actually happened.”
Cllr Vaughan claimed the planning officer had not visited the site and said Powys County Council should apologise.
He said respect should be shown to “frustrated” descendants and the topsoil should be restored in the section of graveyard where the road is currently built.
A spokesperson for Powys County Council said planning permission was granted in June 2022 for the change of use of land to form a parking area.
“The council has an open planning enforcement case in relation to this site and is in the process of investigating whether works undertaken on site, including the erection of wooden poles, are in compliance with the approved planning permission(s),” the spokesperson added.
“The council has informed the Ministry of Justice and the police regarding possible disturbance to graves.”
Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed it was investigating a report of criminal damage at Bethany Chapel.
Image: Pic: Jackie Davies
‘Swift action’
A spokesperson for the Dolafon Trust said it had not been made directly aware of the ongoing investigations by Powys County Council or Dyfed-Powys Police.
“Members of our congregation have lived and worked in the area for many years,” the spokesperson said.
“Guided by our Christian faith, our priority has always been to be good neighbours and support the local community, including through extensive charitable activity.”
The spokesperson added they understood relatives of people laid to rest at Bethany Chapel were “concerned by our ongoing restoration works”.
“We wish to reassure all that we deeply value the sanctity of places of worship and are meticulously adhering to the planning consent granted by Powys County Council,” they added.
The spokesperson confirmed the development of the site was granted while it was under previous ownership.
“We have since worked closely with the council and other relevant authorities to ensure that our plans are delivered sensitively and appropriately,” they said.
“We are taking all feedback from the community extremely seriously, and took swift action to relocate fencing that was not up to our high standards of care for this restoration.
“As part of our efforts to re-establish the chapel as a place of worship, these works continue with the utmost respect and compassion.”
But what about his style ‘prince’? Some want that ditched too.
It’s a complicated but not impossible process. Andrew could, of course, just stop using it voluntarily.
Some want him to give up his home, too. For a non-working royal, the stately Royal Lodge, with its plum position on the Windsor Estate, is an uncomfortable optic.
With the reputation of the monarchy at risk, William does not want to appear weak. He’s putting loyalty to “the firm” firmly above his familial relationships.
Prince Andrew has always strongly denied the allegations, and restated on Friday: “I vigorously deny the accusations against me”. Sky News has approached him for comment on the fresh allegations set out in the Mail on Sunday.
But with Virginia Giuffre’s tragic death and posthumous memoir due out on Tuesday, Buckingham Palace will be braced for more scandal.
When Andrew gave up his titles, there was certainly a sense of relief.
There is now a sense of dread over what else could emerge.
Sky News’ royal commentator has explained why Prince Andrew has not given up being called a prince – while another expert has said “the decent thing” for him to do would be “go into exile” overseas.
Andrew announced on Friday that he would stop using his Duke of York title and relinquish all other honours, including his role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
However, he will continue to be known as a prince.
Royal commentator Alastair Bruce said that while Andrew’s other honours and titles were conferred to him later in life, he became a prince when he was born to Elizabeth II while she was queen.
He told presenter Kamali Melbourne: “I think […] that style was quite special to the late Queen,” he said. “And perhaps the King, for the moment, thinks that can be left alone.
“It’s a matter really for the King, for the royal household, perhaps with the guidance and advice of government, which I’m sure they are taking.”
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2:49
Who pushed Andrew to drop his titles?
Since Andrew’s announcement, there has been speculation over whether any further measures will be taken – and one author has now called for him to “go into exile”.
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Andrew Lownie, author of The Rise And Fall Of The House Of York, said: “The only way the story will go away is if he leaves Royal Lodge, goes into exile abroad with his ex-wife, and is basically stripped of all his honours, including Prince Andrew.”
Royal Lodge is the Windsor mansion Andrew lives in with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who has also lost her Duchess of York title.
Image: Andrew and his former wife continue to live on the Windsor estate. Pic: Reuters
Mr Lownie continued: “He makes out he’s an honourable man and he’s putting country and family first. Well, if he is, then the optics look terrible for the monarchy. A non-working royal in a 30-room Crown Estate property with a peppercorn rent.
“He should do the decent thing and go. And frankly, he should go into exile.”
Mr Lownie added if the Royal Family “genuinely want to cut links, they have to put pressure on him to voluntarily get out”.
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1:11
Windsor’s take on Prince Andrew
Andrew’s decision to stop using his titles was announced amid renewed scrutiny of his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and fresh stories linked to the late Virginia Giuffre.
Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, alleged she was sexually assaulted by Andrew on three occasions – which he has always vigorously denied.
Bereaved families whose loved ones took their own lives after buying the same poison online have written to the prime minister demanding urgent action.
Warning: This article contains references to suicide
The group claims there have been “multiple missed opportunities” to shut down online forums that promote suicide and dangerous substances.
They warn that over 100 people have died after purchasing a particular poison in the last 10 years.
Among those who have written to Downing Street is Pete Aitken, whose daughter Hannah was 22 when she took her own life after buying the poison from a website.
Hannah was autistic and had ADHD. She was treated in six different mental health hospitals over a four-year period.
He said: “Autistic people seem to be most vulnerable to this kind of sort of poison and, you know, wanting to take their lives.”
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4:05
Pete Aitken speaking to Sky News
Sky News is not naming the poison, but Hannah was able to buy a kilogram of it online. Just one gram is potentially fatal.
“There’s this disparity between the concentration required for its legitimate use and that required for ending your life. And it seems quite clear you could make a distinction,” Mr Aitken said.
Analysis from the Molly Rose Foundation and the group Families and Survivors to Prevent Online Suicide Harms says at least 133 people have died because of the poison. It also says coroners have written warnings about the substance on 65 separate occasions.
The report accuses the Home Office of failing to strengthen the regulation of the poison and says not enough is being done to close dangerous suicide forums online.
Lawyers representing the group want a public inquiry into the deaths.
In a joint letter to the prime minister, the families said: “We write as families whose loved ones were let down by a state that was too slow to respond to the threat.
“This series of failings requires a statutory response, not just to understand why our loved ones died but also to prevent more lives being lost in a similar way.”
The group’s lawyer, Merry Varney, from Leigh Day, said: “The government is rightly committed to preventing deaths through suicide, yet despite repeated warnings of the risks posed by an easily accessible substance, fatal in small quantities and essentially advertised on online forums, no meaningful steps have been taken.”
Image: Hannah’s dad is one of the family members to have signed the letter
A government spokesperson said: “Suicide devastates families and we are unequivocal about the responsibilities online services have to keep people safe on their platforms.
“Under the Online Safety Act, services must take action to prevent users from accessing illegal suicide and self-harm content and ensure children are protected from harmful content that promotes it.
“If they fail to do so, they can expect to face robust enforcement, including substantial fines.”
They added that the position is “closely monitored and reportable under the Poisons Act, meaning retailers must alert authorities if they suspect it is being bought to cause harm”.
“We will continue to keep dangerous substances under review to ensure the right safeguards are in place,” they said.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.