GRIEVING people have been unable to get to the graves of their loved ones in a Ringwood cemetery because of the parking of some parents dropping off and picking up their children from school.

Parents have been parking in the tiny cemetery car park and the town council has also received complaints of children “running riot” across graves at the cemetery in Hightown Road.

The council has resorted to shutting the cemetery gates from 2.30pm to 3.15pm as well as at 4pm when they close for the night, so that anyone wishing to visit graves during that time has to park elsewhere and walk a considerable distance into the cemetery.

Ringwood resident Celia Marker told a meeting of Ringwood town council on Wednesday: “My father died in June and my mother a few years ago.

“I can’t get to my Dad’s grave when I want to because people are parking illegally.

“On three recent occasions, I tried to visit my parents’ graves mid-afternoon. On all three, not only could I not get in, I could scarcely get through the road.

“Cars were parked on zig-zag lines and double lines and none of the cars had occupants so they were scarcely dropping off. The health and safety aspect alone was high risk.”

“I have now resorted to going on Sundays.”

Miss Marker continued: “I really cannot see in a democratic society why the illegal minority can stop the legal majority getting to see where their families are buried.”

She added: “My father fought in the war and my grandfather fought in the First World War and they fought for democracy, but they didn’t get it.”

Mayor Christine Ford told the meeting: “I have a pot of flowers to put on my dearly beloved friend’s grave, but I haven’t been able to put it there for three days.”

Ringwood town clerk Terry Simpson said: “We have tried quite hard to leave the gates open but some parents just aren’t interested.

“People complain to us we are not making it available for the use it is intended for. At the moment the car park is closed.

“We have had real complaints of parents letting kids run riot in there and they’re not interested that it’s a cemetery. It’s only a few parents but they spoil it for everyone else.”

“Traffic wardens have issued three tickets, but could issue more.”

“They are parking illegally and the only way we are going to get through to some parents is to issue tickets.”

Ringwood Junior School deputy headteacher Judy Goding, said: “I have worked at the school for 25 years and this problem has been going on all that time.

“The school has got an incorrect reputation because of the behaviour of a small minority of parents.

“As a school it’s not our responsibility to manage or control what goes on the highway. Our responsibility stops at the gates.

“We have written to and pleaded with parents but to no avail.

“It’s being going on a long, long time, a resolution has to be achieved.”

A spokesman for New Forest District Council said: “Parked vehicles cause a problem outside the cemetery for a half hour period during school term time.

“When an enforcement officer is present motorists tend to comply with regulations. We have patrolled Hightown Road on 31 occasions since September 1 and will continue to monitor the situation.”