THE "hostile actions" of a minority of people in the Isle of Man have forced the closure of a pet cemetery in Greeba.

That's according to advocates who are acting on behalf of the woman who owns the private land at Beaufield Park (previously Cronk Dhoo Farm) on which the cemetery is located.

Pet owners had raised their concerns after access to the cemetery was restricted when the new owner purchased the land in March.

Advocates at Appleby who are representing the new owner have said that upon purchasing the land, which also includes a private home and campsite, the new owner did not agree to buy a pet cemetery business or any other business from the previous owner.

Because of this the new owner planned to wind down the campsite and to leave the pet cemetery as a "garden of rest" by letting flora and fauna grow there undisturbed and not accepting payments for future burials.

However the new owner raised concerns over the state of the land in the cemetery which has been described as uneven with "hidden obstacles" which can and have caused people to fall.

As a result advocates have said it has not been possible for the new owner to insure against visitors who may suffer accidents in the area.

According to advocates the new owner has never seen any agreements relating to a pet cemetery business and if any contracts do exist the new owner is not in possession of them.

Because of this the new owner has no records of who has their animals buried in the cemetery meaning she has been unable to contact pet owners directly.

The advocates say the new owner notified pet owners of the change in land ownership and restrictions due to safety through signs posted at the ceremony in May and July.

However advocates say after these signs were displayed the new owner started to receive "abusive telephone calls and visits to her house by people threatening violence and damage to the new owner's property and person which have caused her to fear for her safety".

They added: "Following this abuse and criticism the new owner has been unable to act to make the pet cemetery safe and discharge the duty of care owned as the occupier of the pet cemetery to visitors.

"She therefore has had no choice but to close the pet cemetery and to discourage entry to the area so that she cannot be said to have invited 'visitors' to an unsafe area.

"The situation of the pet cemetery has caused great distress to the new owner who now lives in constant fear of abuse.

"Unfortunately the hostile actions of a minority of people have led the new owner to believe that any plans allowing access to the land may no longer be workable as she is afraid to let people close to her home or to distribute her contact details for fear of further abuse."

Advocates say the land owner will install electric fencing around the property for her own "personal safety and the protection of her home from disturbance or damage".

South Douglas MHK David Cretney and Middle MHK Howard Quayle have been working towards finding a solution to this problem after concerns were raised by their constituents.

However suggestions to resolve the issue including leasing the land to government at no charge or to an organisation of pet owners have fallen through.

Mr Cretney said: "Unfortunately the actions of a minority of persons either on site or on the telephone have coloured the landowner's willingness to maintain access in any way.

"Their position is that access to remove any grave stone or other item is to be by prior arrangement and that they believe the way forward as they see it is for no ongoing access but an assurance that the land in question would not be built upon or disturbed in anyway rather it would be left to 'return to nature'.

"I apologise that I have not been able to obtain a compromise which would allow more limited access at agreed times, such as on a Sunday, which was the outcome I was seeking." 

Despite closing the pet cemetery advocates say the new owner has never requested the exhumation of any animals and "reiterates that she is happy to leave the pet cemetery as a garden of rest and for all remains to lay undisturbed."

Any pet owners wishing to enter the pet cemetery to remove their memorials must make this request in writing. Anyone who enters the land without prior permission of the owner will be reported to the police and the new owner will bring a claim of trespass. 

Advocates have advised any pet owners who believe they have contractual rights regarding the pet cemetery to pursue the issue with the previous owner who would have been the contracting party when any contracts were drawn up.

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