Rethink on cemetery

At Monday night's council meeting a decision was made to close gates stopping vehicles accessing the cemetery after 4pm for a three-month trial period.

The decision was made following damage caused by vehicles and people to memorial works.

As no one had come forward admitting responsibility for the damage the council said the financial burden of the repair bill had caused 'distress' to family members.

According to the council minutes all the damage had been caused in the evening after staff had gone home.

Alderman Stephen Moutray said the decision to close the gates was a penalty on the elderly.

He said: "This decision was made after vandalism on some graves and headstones.

"We can't penalise the elderly we need to reconsider this and think about traffic humps or CCTV cameras.

"We can't penalise the innocent."

It was decided the decision would be withdrawn and reconsidered by the council's environmental services committee.