Residents have been fighting for building works to begin for seven years

A cemetery wall which collapsed more than five years ago and was left to ruin will finally be given a rebuild.

A section of the wall surrounding Kensal Green Cemetery in Harrow Road, Kensal Green, collapsed on the night of Notting Hill Carnival in 2005 and residents have been fighting for a rebuild ever since.

Work was due to start on the 175-year-old wall today but contractors Conway Builders were told they must provide an adequate re-routing of traffic by Brent Council.

It is thought a solution will be reached by Monday when a six-month rebuild of the listed area will get underway.

Speaking to the Times, Avril Mackintosh, from the Kensal Triangle Residents Association, said the upkeep of the cemetery was “really important” for local residents.

She said: “It is really important for the area to have it rebuild, the wall was an eyesore before.

“This is a listed area and we have been asking for it for a long time.”

Explaining the reasons for the delay, a spokesman for the cemetery told the Times it was a ‘massive job’ and not something that could be taken lightly.

He said: “It is not simply a case of knocking down a wall and starting again, you have to change the foundations underneath and ensure you are not disturbing any graves.

The rebuild is expected to cost hundreds of thousands of pounds and will be done in three stages the first of which will completely rebuild the first 12 bays, sections of the wall divided by stone pillars.

He added: “After that is complete we will review it again but we are confident work will resume on Monday.”

Ms Mackintosh added: “This goes beyond issues of simply how it looks, it is also important for the community many of whom may be burying loved ones there or visit it regularly and need some privacy.”