ATTEMPTS to overturn a controversial decision to close the gates of a West Cumbrian cemetery to cars have been quashed.

Allerdale council announced it would ban cars from entering Salterbeck Cemetery because of concerns over safety and respect for the graves.

However the decision sparked concern among people who feared the move would make it more difficult for them to visit the final resting places of loved ones.

Councillor Stephen Stoddart, who represents the Moorclose ward on the district and county councils, gathered a 300-signature petition, which was considered by Allerdale council’s overview and scrutiny committee.

He also led a silent protest outside the cemetery gates, which took place earlier this year.

The petition stated: “We the undersigned request that Allerdale Borough Council reconsider its decision to stop all motor vehicles from entering Salterbeck cemetery and propose that they allow blue badge holders access.”

The gates at Salterbeck Cemetery have been left unlocked for a number of years, allowing for cemetery corteges to enter freely and funeral services to be undertaken.

A report presented to the scrutiny committee said: “Over a period of time members of the public have taken to driving into the cemetery to visit grave sides.

“The layout of the cemetery and the design of the paths was not intended for public vehicular access and as such the council has not authorised the use of public vehicles to access the cemetery.

“Vehicles accessing the cemetery have damaged a number of paths and graves over a period of time.”

The committee was asked to consider whether the procedures followed which led to locking the Salterbeck cemetery gates were appropriate; whether the actions taken were appropriate; and whether the request in the submitted petition required further review.

A spokesman for Allerdale council said: “The committee agreed the procedures followed were appropriate, that the actions taken were appropriate and that the request in the petition did not need to be reviewed further.”

Councillor Mike Heaslip, executive member with responsibility for bereavement services, had previously defended the decision.

He said: “The safety of all visitors to the cemetery is of paramount importance, as is the need to respect the graves of the deceased, and this is why we’ve made the decision to stop visitors driving inside the cemetery.

“This is not unusual and is the case in other cemeteries in the area.”

Following the meeting, coun Stoddart took to Facebook to share his disappointment at the decision.

He also thanked those who had campaigned with him to get the decision overturned.