Youths ride bikes around graves in antisocial behaviour incident at London Road Cemetery

An incident of antisocial behaviour has been reported at London Road Cemetery in Thatcham.

A group of youths were spotted entering the cemetery on February 12, through the kissing gate, riding on electric scooters and bikes, according to an incident report read out in a recent Thatcham Town Council recreation and amenities temporary working party meeting.

The young people were also seen to be “bashing balloons which had just been put on a baby grave” as well as “jumping up and down on benches” in the area.

One of the benches has been noted as the “Philbey bench” which had to be replaced last year.

Thatcham Town Council staff were “in touch with the police straight away” when they heard of the “one-off event”.

Police officers were called to the scene but, according to the town council's incident report, the youths had left.

Police officers were said to have already been patrolling the area for another previous incident - Thatcham Town Council has said that previous issues have since “gone away completely".

Antisocial behaviour, at the same location, was discussed by the council in early December of last year when alleged drug taking was spotted on London Road.

A request was made, by the complainant, for the kissing gate to be closed as a deterrent, however, the council meeting on February 28 found that this would not be “practically possible”.

The situation of the cemetery along London Road makes it a pathway used by “lots and lots of dog walkers”.

The report stated that access to the cemetery is available in four locations, the cemetery access road, the A4 path past the Chapel, the allotment strip path and the path at the top of the new cemetery section.

The status of the incident is now closed.