Bollards Installed to Prevent Damage to Graves

Cars inappropriately parked at cemetery

BOLLARDS have been installed at Loughborough Cemetery to protect war graves from damage caused by cars.

Charnwood Borough Council has installed the bollards at the Ling Road end so that vehicles attending funerals at the neighbouring Crematorium cannot use grave sides as additional parking.

The move comes following a number of incidents in which graves, including war graves, were damaged and wooden posts torn out of the ground by motorists who couldn’t park at the Crematorium.

Councillor Hilary Fryer, Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Cleansing and Open Spaces, said: “In the past we have advised motorists that they can only park in designated areas, but this polite notice has been ignored and we are now faced with a situation where people are disrespecting graves by parking on them and causing damage.

“It is a totally unacceptable situation and we have taken action to prevent it from happening in future.

“We have a dedicated team of workers who take great pride in looking after our Cemetery, ensuring it is a place of beauty and calm for people to visit and remember their loved ones. We want it to stay that way.”

So far this financial year, the Council has spent £7,500 on repairing damage caused by cars parking on graves and grave sides and trying to manage traffic at the cemetery.

The bollards can be raised and lowered by authorised staff to allow access during large cemetery funerals.

There is street parking nearby which could be used by visitors to the cemetery if the Crematorium car park is full.

For more information about Loughborough Cemetery visit:  http://www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/loughboroughcemeteryfurtherdetai, call 01509 632530 or email parks@charnwood.gov.uk