Police and council investigations launched into allegations of gravestone removal at Powys chapel

A campaign has been launched to stop work to form a car park and an access route at the Bethany Chapel, in Hodley, near Newtown.

Relatives of deceased interred at the graveyard say headstones had been moved and some have even gone missing. A Facebook page has been created and companies working on the project have been warned that they could be named and shamed.

Jackie H Davies, who started the Restore Bethany Chapel Hodley's Graveyard Facebook page said: "A few weeks ago somebody from Oswestry came over to put flowers on one of the graves as they do twice a year.

"She said it was a sickening shock to find that the spot was not there.

"People are disgusted and we blame the Powys County Council for allowing it in the first place. Descendants of people buried there are still alive and I cannot even comprehend that this is happening.

"Despite the campaign work is still happening there today. We want it stopped and the graveyard restored."

"It is very emotional and shocking even for children. They are taught not to even walk over someone's grave.

"Now we see bulldozers and diggers all over the site and headstones flung to one side."

She added: "I don't know how a Christian group can do this to the graves of Christians.

"I am all for the restoration of it for a meeting hall but the problem is with the access."

Dolafon Gospel Hall Trust, part of Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, has denied to the BBC that works had resulted in gravestones being lost.

The trust was granted planning consent last year by Powys County Council.

Members of the listed chapel had been parking along the public highway with no formal designated parking areas existing.

Planning documents revealed that concerns were made by the Built Heritage regarding the impacts the proposed access may have on the existing graveyard which would harm the setting of the rural listed chapel.

Background papers noted that the agent confirmed that under the previous listed building consent works were approved for the relocation of six headstones and memorials and has confirmed that no further work would therefore be required to accommodate the access road as the parking is then now proposed in a new extended area subject to the change of use.

Planning officers concluded that "it is considered that the proposed development could be managed to an acceptable level and would not be seen as harming the setting of the listed building."

A spokesperson for Powys Council said: "Planning permission was granted for the change of use of land to form a parking area and formation of vehicular access in June 2022

"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 council has informed the Ministry of Justice and the police regarding possible disturbance to graves."

The Dolafon Gospel Hall Trust, the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, and the planning agent at the time have been approached for comment.