Controversial Cemetery Bollards Plan Scrapped After Public Outcry

In a surprising turn of events, Southampton City Council have decided to abandon their plans to install bollards at the St Mary Extra Cemetery on Portsmouth Road in Sholing. This decision follows a vehement public backlash against the proposed measure, which aimed to limit vehicle access within the cemetery to protect graves and minimise potholes.

The initial proposal triggered strong opposition, particularly from relatives of those interred at the site. The lack of community engagement was a pivotal factor that forced authorities to reconsider their stance.

Councillor Eammon Keogh, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, stated, “We have listened to the public and have decided not to go ahead with the bollards. There are groups of visitors who use the cemetery with opposing views, and our decision will not be popular with all. We appeal to everyone involved to respect the views and rights of others and to make the cemetery a peaceful place where relatives can pay respect to their deceased loved ones. We will continue to look for a solution to reduce damage caused by vehicles to ensure St Mary Extra Cemetery is a safe and peaceful place for all.”

The decision-making process included taking into account the impact on respondents and the votes both in favour and against the bollard installation. 49 percent of respondents favoured the bollards, while 46 percent voted against them, with 38 percent strongly disagreeing.

However, the critical factor in the decision to abandon the plan was the specific demographics that would be most adversely affected. Those who disagreed most strongly included individuals with loved ones laid to rest at St Mary Extra Cemetery (57 percent), respondents identifying as disabled (60 percent), and residents of the SO19 postcode area (54 percent).

Heather White, Service Manager for Bereavement, emphasised the council’s responsibility for managing and controlling the cemetery while balancing the needs of all visitors, whether on foot or in vehicles, as well as those of grave owners who have placed memorials along the footpaths. White also issued a reminder to the public that anyone causing damage, defacement, or nuisance within the cemetery would be liable to prosecution.

This decision highlights the importance of community input in shaping local policies, even in seemingly minor matters such as cemetery management, and underlines the challenge of finding a balance between competing interests within a community. Southampton City Council will now continue its search for alternative solutions to maintain the cemetery as a peaceful and secure place for all.