GRIEVING families campaigning against new bollards at a city cemetery say the council’s solution to the issue is “not good enough”.

As previously reported, the bollards have been put up to prevent people using Southampton General Hospital from parking in Hollybrook cemetery.

The council has said the bollards will be taken down at weekends, but some residents say the new measure leaves them unable to visit the graves of loved ones - unless they can drive - due to disability or age.

The city council installed the bollards around the cemetery in April after reports that people using the hospital were parking in the grounds.

Following concerns from families visiting the cemetery, city environment and transport chief Jacqui Rayment said the bollards will be lowered on Friday evenings and put back up on Monday mornings.

She has said that the decision has been made and it will not be reassessed for a ‘few months’.

Cllr Rayment said: “The council have made their decision and have come up with a suitable solution. “I have only had one person contact me to say they are upset with my plans.

“The situation with the bollards will be reassessed in a few months and we will go from there.”

Maureen and Bob Dyer from Freemantle, whose daughter Cara is buried at the cemetery, are leading the petition and campaign to have the bollards taken down.

Mr Dyer, 73, said: “We are still not happy with the solution to only take down the bollards at weekends.

"This month it especially hit home because it was the anniversary of our daughter’s birthday.

“Her birthday fell on a Tuesday this year, which meant we were unable to visit her grave.

"It is so disheartening to be prevented a few minutes to have a chat with someone you have lost when you need to.”

Norman Drake, 71 from Totton frequently visits the cemetery to attend his family grave and is unhappy with the solution of taking the bollards down at weekends. He said: “I am not happy that the bollards are only being taken down at weekends.

“I want to be able to visit the grave as often as I want and I shouldn’t be prevented from doing so.”

Some residents also claimed they were told by council officers to buy wheelchairs or scooters to access the graves, and Mr Drake said he was “disgusted” with the suggestion, adding: “We shouldn’t have to do that.

"Even if I bought one I’d be OK getting down but I’d never be able to get back up the hill.”