Graves damaged by 'appalling' drivers using Bristol cemetery as shortcut
Drivers have damaged graves when using a closed cemetery road as a shortcut to avoid traffic in neighbouring roads.The route through Avon View Cemetery in east Bristol is only supposed to be used by hearses, maintenance vehicles or visitors with limited mobility.But drivers have been using the route regularly to avoid heavy traffic and bypass roadblocks within the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood scheme. The cemetery installed bollards to block the road, but people have since driven directly over graves to evade the closure.
"They [the bollards] have only been up for two days and people decided to drive in and drive over people's graves," said Ian Calway, from Friends of Avon View Cemetery."Has anyone got any morals any more or any respect? This is all to save 10 minutes. That's it."
Mr Calway told BBC Radio Bristol the cemetery has been seen by many as a convenient route from Blackswarth Road to Beaufort Road.He added: "We'd been getting complaints from various members of the public about cars using the cemetery as a shortcut."It's not just the volume [of cars], it's the speed."Mr Calway said people have been driving along the 5mph (8km/h) road at "up to 35mph (56km/h)".
'It's just crazy'
Wooden bollards were initially installed to stop people using the road, but Mr Calway said they were removed by drivers and thrown into nearby hedges.Funding via the liveable neighbourhood scheme has since enabled the installation of metal bollards. But Mr Calway said some vehicles have been using the cemetery's narrow footpaths, where even hearses are not permitted."This place is visited by the elderly and mothers with small children. It's just crazy," he said.
Barney Harris, who lives nearby, said: "One of the [damaged] graves was from 2019 - it's not even an old grave, it's absolutely appalling."I can't comprehend how people would justify doing this. It's a disgrace."Bristol City Council has been approached for comment because they own the land.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
02-06-2025
- ITV News
Bus gates: The next step of Bristol's controversial liveable neighbourhood scheme
The controversial low traffic area in East Bristol has finally been completed after cameras to three bus gates have been switched on. The new bus gates introduced as part of the controversial Liveable Neighbourhood scheme must now be used by motorists. The gates are located halfway down Marsh Lane, and then on either side of the junction with Avonvale Road, on the corner next to Banksy's Valentine's Day mural. Bristol City Council has confirmed that the CCTV cameras installed at these sites are now operational, but they have already been vandalised. What are the new rules? All the bus gates are in use 24-hours a day, seven days a week. They mean that the only road users who can travel through the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood (EBLN) are: Buses Emergency vehicles Bicycles Solo motorcycles Taxis Residents of the EBLN area whose vehicle has a disabled tax class (must apply for an exemption) Professional carers who work in homes of people who live within the EBLN area (must apply for an exemption) Residents of the EBLN area who have a Blue Badge registered to their address can nominate one vehicle (must apply for an exemption) Residents of the EBLN area who are on a low income, who meet the eligibility criteria and need to drive to work (must apply for an exemption) Parents or carers who live within the EBLN area who receive a personal travel budget for their child with SEND (the council will contact eligible residents) Although the bus gate cameras are now working, motorists caught driving through the area without an exemption will be sent a warning letter rather than being fined for the first few weeks. What is the liveable neighbourhood scheme? This step marks the start of the six-month pilot scheme of the EBLN, which has been designed to achieve a better balance between how streets are used for vehicles and people. It's the first liveable neighbourhood project in the city and aims to make the streets safer and less polluted. The deputy leader of Bristol City Council, Cllr Heather Mack, said: 'By stopping drivers from cutting through residential roads, and by encouraging more people to walk, wheel and cycle for shorter journeys or to use public transport, including the new number 16 bus that goes right through the trial area, local residential streets should be safer and quieter." Why is it so controversial? Two of the signs for the bus gates were vandalised shortly after they were installed, with the words "no poor people allowed" spray-painted across them. The cameras themselves have now also been vandalised, just hours after they were installed. Some local residents have strongly opposed the plans, claiming it will make life "unnecessarily difficult" and create a "wealth divide" within the community. Police were needed earlier this year when contractors were blocked from carrying out work. Cllr Mack described it as a "very difficult situation" and acknowledged that the council hadn't expected the extent of the opposition. She told ITV News West Country: "I think the level of protest did come from a lack of trust in how the scheme developed and I think we should have expected that and reacted more quickly for that protest."In a statement, she noted: 'I live in the area myself, and I came and listened to people across the trial area and recognised there was a risk we hadn't responded to concerns some community members had, especially those on low incomes and disabled people.'As a result, we have put together a boosted range of travel offers and bus gate exemptions, and I really urge everyone who thinks they could be eligible to check the criteria and apply as soon as possible.'The travel offers, which include a choice of £250 of First Bus tickets or £150 to spend on a reconditioned bike, are available for households in the trial area who receive certain benefits. This is on top of £100 of First Bus tickets that every household across the EBLN will receive through the post soon."
The Sun
24-04-2025
- The Sun
Busy bridge used by over 30,000 drivers a day CLOSES to heavy vehicles next month in ‘devastating move'
A MAJOR route into Wales will ban heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in a move drivers say will cost them 'immensely.' The M48 River Severn Bridge will ban vehicles over 7.5 tonnes for 18 months from 27 May after cables supporting the historic structure were found to be deteriorating. 3 3 Instead, they will be forced to make a lengthy detour via the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge, which a director of a Haulage company warned was unreliable. National Highways has claimed it has 'no choice' but to block the heaviest trucks as its main priority is to protect public safety. But James Burton, director of M&J Transport, told BBC Radio Bristol that the impact on his industry could be 'devastating.' He argued that if the proposed alternative, the Prince of Wales bridge, shut down due to bad weather or a crash it woud it would completely cut off HGVS from the Severn crossing. He said: "They've not put any plans or any thought into what's going to happen when it gets busy in the summer, or if there's any closures. The cost to the industry and the cost to us personally would be immense," he said. Chris Pope, from National Highways, said that if they didn't ban HGVs, they would be forced to close it completely. He said: 'We want to keep the bridge running for people, but the solution we have found is that we've managed to keep it open for 90% of people. "It is safe, it's all about loading, and unfortunately, we are in a position where about 85% of the loading that the main suspension cables are carrying is actually the bridge itself." Caroline Tovey of Richard Tovery Transport pointed out that the new route already forces drivers on a 14-mile detour. 3 She added that some areas may find "large vehicles being rerouted through their communities". "It isn't just about the money, it's about infrastructure that isn't used to (HGVs)." Claire Young, MP for Thornbury and Yate, told the BBC it would cost between £300million to £600million to strengthen the bridge to take the current load of HGVs. She argues that the infrastructure dates to the sixties, and that vehicles and traffic have got heavier. She said: "It has the potential to really impact the local economy. The government says its top priority is growth. If we are going to have that, we need the infrastructure to support it."
BBC News
23-04-2025
- BBC News
Closing M48 Severn Bridge to HGVs 'devastating' for hauliers
Hauliers say that a decision to ban heavy goods vehicles from the M48 Severn Bridge could be "devastating" for their ban will come into force for at least 18 months from 27 May after National Highways discovered the cables supporting the structure are deteriorating.A director of an Avonmouth-based haulage company warned the alternative route into Wales via the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge is not always reliable, and drivers could be forced to take lengthy detours around Highways said it has "no choice" but to impose weight limits in the interest of public safety, and that it was looking for a long-term solution to allow HGVs to return "in a controlled manner". It is currently proposing a "technological solution" that will manage the flow of HGVs over the bridge to prevent overloading it. Jamie Burton, director of M&J Transport, told BBC Radio Bristol the impact of the Prince of Wales Bridge shutting due to a a crash or poor weather "would be devastating" once HGVs can no longer use the Severn crossing."They've not put any plans or any thought into what's going to happen when it gets busy in the summer, or if there's any closures. The cost to the industry and the cost to us personally would be immense," he Tovey of Richard Tovey Transport pointed out that even when the Prince of Wales Bridge is open, it still adds a 14-mile detour onto journeys. She added some areas may find "large vehicles being rerouted through their communities"."It isn't just about the money, it's about infrastructure that isn't used to (HGVs)."Claire Young, Liberal Democrat MP for Thornbury and Yate, said it could cost between £300m and £600m to augment the bridge so it can continue carrying its current load. "All this infrastructure was put in at the same time in the 60s, it's now ageing, we are seeing problems," she said."It has the potential to really impact the local economy. The government says its top priority is growth. If we are going to have that, we need the infrastructure to support it."Chris Pope, from National Highways, said the agency had no choice but to temporarily ban HGVs from the bridge."We want to keep the bridge running for people but the solution that we have found is that we've managed to keep it open for 90% of people," he said. "It is safe, it's all about loading and unfortunately we are in a position where about 85% of the loading that the main suspension cables are carrying is actually the bridge itself."Mr Pope added that National Highways was looking for a solution that will allow HGVs to return "in a controlled manner so we don't overload the bridge".
