‘Utterly unacceptable’ Councillor’s fury at biker tribute at crematorium
ACITY councillor has called for better supervision at funerals at a South Bristol Crematorium following a biker’s funeral last month.
Conservative councillor Richard Eddy said the scenes were ‘utterly unacceptable’ and has suggested that people should be charged for damage at the site on Bedminster Down if found to be responsible.
Some who attended the funeral, did so on motorbikes, quad bikes and scramblers, but councillor Eddy has said that bikes had been driven ‘recklessly’ in nearby streets and damage had been caused to the green located outside of Bristol Water’s HQ, as well as verges at the entrance to the crematorium.
The funeral was of a 20-year-old motorcyclist, who died in a crash near Ashton Gate in January, at the crematorium on February 22.
A GoFundMe page raised more than £3,000 for the funeral, which saw many people turn out to pay their respects to the young man.
Some rode scramblers, quad bikes and motorbikes.
Councillor Eddy also said it mirrored another biker’s funeral from last year which had led to police attending following reports of antisocial behaviour.
In a statement at Bristol City Council member forum Councillor Eddy, of the Bishopsworth ward, said: “It is imperative that the crematorium is well run, does not contribute to anti-social behaviour and is not a magnet for an environmental crime locally.
“Sadly, a recent funeral proved far from satisfactory and was utterly unacceptable for local people. (The) funeral at South Bristol Crem echoed the scenes of hooliganism and thuggery we experienced 18 months ago at a similar ‘biker funeral.’ They were disgraceful.
He claimed in his statement that some of those who attended the funeral drove their bikes “recklessly along nearby residential streets, doing wheelies and riding on pavements”.
“They endangered the lives of the elderly and young children,” he added.
Councillor Eddy said residents who sought to intervene were abused and threatened.
He said that it added to the ‘ongoing problems’ of bikers using open spaces in Bedminster Down, added the councillor who has been in contact with Police and Commissioner Mark Shelford on the issue.
The councillor’s statement concluded: “I would like to see the Mayor’s administration instruct officers to take a more robust approach to booking and supervising funerals at the crematorium, liaising with the police to forewarn them of possible problems where this is identified and even ‘surcharging’ families for any damage caused where family or friends are identified as being responsible.”