We received a tip from a Reader about thefts of water and soil from the cemetery. Allotment gardeners are allegedly responsible. What is more, according to the person who reported it, the aforementioned gardeners also allegedly dump piles of rubbish (jars, cans, weeds) at the cemetery:

They made [administracja cmentarza – przyp. istotne.pl] a gate at the cemetery clearly for the allotment gardeners—they claimed it would be locked for the winter.

This is not the only thing irritating the person who reported it:

In general, there is information at the entrance saying that the cemetery is closed at night, but that is complete nonsense. People have turned the cemetery into a park: they walk their dogs in the cemetery, and if you point it out, you still have to listen to a stream of abuse.

The Reader added:

And on weekends, teenagers ride their bicycles and whatever else around; drinking—overall, it is an unpleasant situation...

We asked the cemetery manager Dariusz Filistyński for comment. (At the necropolis manager’s request, we are publishing the response in full):

Dear Madam,

In response, I would like to inform you that water collection at all collection points at the Cemetery has been possible since 5 April this year. Until Monday, 8 April, the Cemetery administration had received no information about problems related to allotment gardeners collecting water or dumping rubbish at the cemetery.

Water collection is continuously monitored. There are more than 50 containers on the cemetery grounds, including sorting bins, and how the containers are used depends solely on residents’ awareness. Waste removal is monitored on an ongoing basis, and the rubbish is collected at least twice a week.

Improper waste sorting by visitors to the Cemetery (glass, plastic and other waste), as well as rubbish left in unauthorized places, is a problem not only for cemetery managers. Such situations require the allocation of additional financial resources and labor to maintain cleanliness.

The aforementioned gate was installed after the area formerly occupied by allotments was taken over because the fence that had previously stood there was repeatedly vandalized and destroyed. The installed gate was also damaged. In view of the burials that have begun nearby (section no. 47), we will consider putting up a more durable fence in this location.

And finally, the last issue concerning the Reader. We respond firmly to animals being brought onto the Cemetery grounds. Many residents report animals being brought in, and this greatly irritates them.

The cemetery regulations, available at all entrances to the Cemetery and also published on the website of Miejski Zakład Gospodarki Mieszkaniowej w Bolesławcu, clearly prohibit bringing animals onto the grounds. We cooperate with the Municipal Police to resolve this problem.

If other instances of the regulations being violated occur, the administration takes appropriate action. Please remember that after the administration’s working hours and on weekends, pedestrian traffic is permitted.

As is widely known, regulations—as a set of rules to be followed in a particular situation and place—establish the rights and obligations of those involved, provide information, organize the state and infrastructure resources of the Cemetery, and, above all, enable due respect to be paid to the deceased and ensure visitors’ safety.

Unfortunately, this is not obvious to all visitors.

I extend my cordial greetings and, through the portal, ask you to comply with the Regulations.

                  Yours sincerely
                  Head of the Cemetery Administration Department
                  Dariusz Filistyński

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