Manilla resident Graham Cederblad has lived in town for more than 40 years, and said he was shocked at the state of the cemetery when he went to lay flowers on a grave at the weekend.

"We were absolutely appalled at the state of what's going on there - or not going on there," he said.

"Between some of the graves, water has been washing down from on top of the hill and it has damaged some of the graves and is starting to tip them, it's absolutely abhorrent.

"This is a long term thing that has crept up and it's absolutely disgusting, they're not looking after assets, they can't say the management is working."

The eaves on the toilet block have been damaged and paper wasps, which can deliver painful stings, have made multiple nests around the toilet block.

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Space that hasn't been taken up by the wasps has been inhabited by swallows' nests, and Mr Cederblad said inside, the toilets are even worse.

"It's filthy dirty, they're drop toilets, but one of the pans wasn't aligned, there's no toilet paper and the door jams are in such a sad state that it's not good," he said.

"Going into the cemetery there are pot holes, ruts on the side of the road and any shade there is, is from overhanging trees nearly touching the ground that haven't been pruned."

Tamworth Regional Council was unable to comment before the time of publication on the state of the cemetery and councillor Mark Rodda said the cemetery is a good example of where "council communications let themselves down".

"They should get a sign made saying they understand the condition but that it's going to be replaced, so people don't need to be alarmed or upset," he said.

"It does concern me to let it go to wrack and ruin, it's just wrong.

"I share the residents' concerns and apologise there were those issues like the paper wasps that make a visit to a place like that worse."

The council hasn't indicated whether it plans to replace the toilet block.

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