BASINGSTOKE Crematorium is reminding guests to be “considerate of others and their surroundings” after complaints were made about discarded balloons and rubbish.

Sightings of overflowing bins, rubbish being left on the floor, damaged lights and discarded Valentine’s balloons at the Stockbridge Road crematorium were reported to The Gazette by concerned readers.

One person, who wished to remain anonymous, said the site “was disgusting and no place to visit a loved one”.

However, Dignity Funerals, which owns and runs Basingstoke Crematorium, issued a reminder to those visiting to be respectful of their surroundings.

A spokesperson for Dignity Funerals said: “Our team works hard throughout the year to maintain and develop the grounds to provide bereaved families with a place of tranquillity to remember their loved ones.

“As any gardener knows, it’s a greater challenge to keep up appearance of a park, public area or domestic garden in February than in summer.

“The vast majority of visitors are considerate of others and the sensitivity of their surroundings but we would ask that packaging from flowers or other waste materials are disposed of in the litter bins around the site.”

When The Gazette visited the site, it found some Christmas-related rubbish.

Last year, Basingstoke Crematorium came under fire for not allowing a family to leave a small floral memorial for their loved one at Christmas.

The spokesperson added: “As a gentle reminder, we would also advise families not to leave balloons, wind chimes or other such mementoes as these can become detached by the wind and then entangled in surrounding shrubbery or trees which can cause distress to other visitors.”

What do you think? Email your views to newsdesk@basingstokegazette.co.uk