Meanwhile, in leafy Marlow...
Discussion
No more cars in the cemetery
By staff reporter
CARS will never be allowed back into Marlow Town Cemetery after risk assessors carried a series of tests and decided motor vehicles posed too much of a threat to pedestrians.
The news will anger the disabled and elderly, many of whom have been left unable to visit loved one's gravesides since the ban was introduced last September following two near misses.
The ban caused such a furore that Marlow Town Council, which owns the cemetery, brought in a risk assessor to try and find a solution.
But after carefully studying the site the risk assessors from Wycombe District Council advised the town council to keep the ban in place and put up bollards at the entrance.
The town council is trying to come up with other possible solutions including improving the access at Sandygate Road, building a small car park, resurfacing part of the walkway to improve access for the disabled and even providing wheelchairs on the site.
The news was announced at a Marlow Town Council meeting on Tuesday night.
Cllr Ivor Coleman said: "I think we have to tarmac and level the lot. I would also like to see us put wheelchairs up there for people to use."
But clerk Howard Bellairs said the cost of resurfacing the whole area would be in the region of £200,000 money which the council don't have.
Cllr Frank Sweatman warned that if work was undertaken it could result in a loss of space and may even mean moving some graves.
He added: "We should stand by our decision to ban vehicles and do what we can within out limited budget to improve the situation for disabled people wishing to visit."
The town council could end up being prosecuted if someone was injured or killed in an accident. Councillors voted unanimously for the ban which doesn't include hearses, accompanying limousines, service vehicles and battery-powered vehicles for the disabled.
By staff reporter
CARS will never be allowed back into Marlow Town Cemetery after risk assessors carried a series of tests and decided motor vehicles posed too much of a threat to pedestrians.
The news will anger the disabled and elderly, many of whom have been left unable to visit loved one's gravesides since the ban was introduced last September following two near misses.
The ban caused such a furore that Marlow Town Council, which owns the cemetery, brought in a risk assessor to try and find a solution.
But after carefully studying the site the risk assessors from Wycombe District Council advised the town council to keep the ban in place and put up bollards at the entrance.
The town council is trying to come up with other possible solutions including improving the access at Sandygate Road, building a small car park, resurfacing part of the walkway to improve access for the disabled and even providing wheelchairs on the site.
The news was announced at a Marlow Town Council meeting on Tuesday night.
Cllr Ivor Coleman said: "I think we have to tarmac and level the lot. I would also like to see us put wheelchairs up there for people to use."
But clerk Howard Bellairs said the cost of resurfacing the whole area would be in the region of £200,000 money which the council don't have.
Cllr Frank Sweatman warned that if work was undertaken it could result in a loss of space and may even mean moving some graves.
He added: "We should stand by our decision to ban vehicles and do what we can within out limited budget to improve the situation for disabled people wishing to visit."
The town council could end up being prosecuted if someone was injured or killed in an accident. Councillors voted unanimously for the ban which doesn't include hearses, accompanying limousines, service vehicles and battery-powered vehicles for the disabled.
I was up that way last night.
Driving down the A404(M) towards the M4, clipping along a bit I admit but in the distance I see a transit van in the outside lane with nothing on its inside. Get a little closer realise that he has his fog lights on. Get closer still and realise its a Police transit van. I was gobsmacked, all their banging on about whats safe and there was this fella keeping right and using fog lights when there was not any fog or any chance of any fog for that matter.
They may get a better reaction from the public when they start abdiding by the rules they are supposed to enforce.
Matt.
Driving down the A404(M) towards the M4, clipping along a bit I admit but in the distance I see a transit van in the outside lane with nothing on its inside. Get a little closer realise that he has his fog lights on. Get closer still and realise its a Police transit van. I was gobsmacked, all their banging on about whats safe and there was this fella keeping right and using fog lights when there was not any fog or any chance of any fog for that matter.
They may get a better reaction from the public when they start abdiding by the rules they are supposed to enforce.
Matt.
Presumably the local residents are taking this lying down? 
Maybe they'll put a sign up saying "for coffin walk" to discourage cars from entering (Say it quickly)
they don't need tarmac - just grave(l)....
Councillor Sweatman.... oh dear, what an unfortunate name....
>> Edited by nubbin on Friday 8th February 11:55
Maybe they'll put a sign up saying "for coffin walk" to discourage cars from entering (Say it quickly)
they don't need tarmac - just grave(l)....
Councillor Sweatman.... oh dear, what an unfortunate name....
>> Edited by nubbin on Friday 8th February 11:55
quote:
Cllr Ivor Coleman said: "I think we have to tarmac and level the lot. I would also like to see us put wheelchairs up there for people to use."
But clerk Howard Bellairs said the cost of resurfacing the whole area would be in the region of £200,000 money which the council don't have.
That's a bit drastic, isn't it? Wheelchairs instead of coffins. Not the dignified exit I'm expecting. And where are they going to put the stiffs, if they're going to tarmac the whole lot?
quote:
And where are they going to put the stiffs, if they're going to tarmac the whole lot?
Easy, get a couple of guys with a jackhammer, dig a hole (only takes about two weeks), drop in the stiff, leave the hole open for another couple of weeks with a cone and a bit of barrier next to it, then drop in some cheap tarmac and run a compactor over the top, job done - until the tarmac opens up in the frost within a year and turns it into a pothole.
Method (c) Your Local Council, 1962-2002
>> Edited by Neil Menzies on Friday 8th February 14:02
quote:
"I think we have to tarmac and level the lot"
If you did that, then surely the cemetry would then be an ideal car park? Where would people then lay the flowers?
Hmmm, sorry, proberly bad taste
Mon Ami, I take your point it's a bit worrying, all that over two near misses.
Dave.
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