Petition to close Whitby graveyard during the town's bi-annual Goth Weekend

A petition calling for Whitby's famous graveyard to close during the town's Goth Weekend has nearly 900 signatures.

A woman started the change.org page last week, saying graves were being used as "props for a cheap photo opportunity".

She wants a temporary closure order brought in at St Mary's Church every year during the bi-annual event.

"People are still disrespecting the graves of the ancestors of the Whitby residents," the petition explains.

"Not only is this disrespectful to the families and the church, it is giving goths a bad name, causing tension in the community for those who are goth all year round, not just for the weekend."

The Goth Weekend takes place twice a year.

The first one was in April. The second is on 4 and 5 November and will feature the likes of Heaven 17, The Mission and Sigue Sigue Sputnik.

The music festival was set up by Jo Hampshire 22 years ago and now includes other subcultures such as Victorian vampires, rockers and punks.

A statement from Whitby Goth Weekend organisers said: "Whitby Goth Weekend (WGW) is a music festival that takes place at the Spa Pavilion in Whitby.

"We're confused as to why people began to visit the town to promenade and be photographed in fancy dress outfits during our event, as this isn't something that we've ever encouraged or advertised.

"We think that the behaviour displayed in the churchyard is disrespectful and offensive, and despite the fact that this is not something we have anything to do with or any control over, we have made several announcements over the past few years through our website and social media requesting that people respect the churchyard."

Signs have been put up on the gates of the church in recent years asking goths not stand on graves or damage flowers when posing for pictures but they haven't worked.

The petition, launched by Bristol resident AJ Stratton, acknowledges the positive effect the festival has had on the North Yorkshire town but says families who visit the graveyard regularly need to have their privacy respected.

She's told Newsbeat that she goes every year and had to do something.

"I set up the petition because, as a regular WGW attendee, I have seen the churchyard become more busy and abused, with each festival that goes by," she says.

"People aren't listening to the pleas of the church warden, the locals or WGW's organiser, so I feel a more firm action has to be taken to make people respect the graveyard.

"I think the petition will work to a degree. I'm hopeful that it'll make the church and the town sit up and listen, that the goths of WGW don't condone the actions of the fancy dressers."

AJ's petition continues: "Besides the fabulous music events and alternative market, Whitby is inundated with thousands of people wanting to dress up and take photographs.

"Unfortunately, despite pleas from the event organisers, and from St Mary's Church themselves, people are still disrespecting the graves of the ancestors of the Whitby residents, by using their graves as props for a cheap photo opportunity.

"Whitby is a beautiful town and there are plenty of places suitable for a photo opportunity which does not disrespect the wishes of residents and family members."

The town of Whitby, and its abbey, gave author Bram Stoker the inspiration for his classic horror novel Dracula.

18th Century explorer and Whitby resident Captain James Cook also set sail on the Bark Endeavour from the harbour.

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