Rough sleepers and drug users have forced the porch at Mount Pleasant cemetery chapel in Wisbech to be temporarily boarded up.

Wisbech councillor Virginia Bucknor said: “Some time ago we discussed plans with council officers to add a gate to the porch. This work did not go forward and is not a simple job as the chapel is a listed Grade 2 heritage asset.”

She said there remains “continuing evidence of drug use in the area along with a rise in rough sleeping”.

Cllr Bucknor said: “To reduce the use of the porch it will be boarded up shortly. This will not look especially attractive, but will mean that visiting the cemetery does not cause people as much concern as it does at present.”

She said that Fenland Council officers have discussed the problem with the conservation officer and they will be working together to get an approved gate fitted as soon as possible.

“The boarding up will be temporary, but could be in place for several months,” she said.

“Once we have the gate fitted we should, once again, have a nice entrance area to the cemetery.”

Cllr Bucknor added: “On another note, we are having some smaller trees removed that are growing randomly from several graves throughout the cemetery. This will clear up the look of the cemetery and improve sight lines further.

“As part of this work we shall remove the root / stump of a tree that came down some time ago and is still sitting opposite the chapel near the entrance.

“Please be assured the boarding is a temporary measure, awaiting a permanent, conservation and heritage acceptable, solution.”