Safety review of memorial stones
Herefordshire Council’s Bereavement Services will conduct an extensive safety inspection of all headstones in its four cemeteries to ensure they comply with strict national legislation and remain a safe place for the public to visit.
Guided by the Health and Safety Executive, under the Health and Safety at Work Act, around 12,000 gravestones will be inspected and reviewed throughout the county.
These cemeteries are at Westfaling Street, Hereford, Old Hereford Road, Leominster, Wigmore on the Knighton Road and Kington Cemetery on the Kington to Eardisley Road.
The Council is also responsible for three closed graveyards at Victoria Street, Commercial Street and Cathedral Close, all Hereford, which will be inspected on a priority basis following the main review of cemeteries.
Local councils countrywide are carrying out similar inspections after the deaths of six people in the last decade, mostly children, as a result of falling gravestones. There have been no deaths or injuries in Herefordshire.
The impacts of weathering, erosion and the introduction of new safety standards have all resulted in the need for the review.
Across Herefordshire’s cemeteries special pressure tests will be conducted to ensure the stability of gravestones.
Those stones that are found to be unsafe and could easily topple will automatically be made safe by the installation of a temporary support.
In the worse case scenario areas may be cordoned off or unstable gravestones may be laid flat, in particular if no surviving family members can be traced.
Courtesy letters will be sent to the owners of gravestones that are found to be unsafe. These letters will also explain the owners’ responsibilities to make the structure safe.
Repair costs will vary depending on the individual work needed on each stone.
Notices explaining the safety review will be placed at the main entrances of all the county’s four cemeteries.
A public open day will also be held at Hereford Cemetery, on March 18, between 10am – 2pm, when staff will be on hand to explain the need for the review and how it will work.
The countywide review will be conducted on a priority basis with all four cemeteries being inspected first. Closed graveyards will follow. Gravestones will be inspected every five years thereafter.
Cllr Phil Edwards, Cabinet Member (Environment), said: “The Council has a statutory duty to ensure that its cemeteries are safe.
“Unfortunately, due to a variety of reasons, some memorials are not stable and are in danger of toppling over.
“This situation clearly presents a health and safety risk that has to be addressed and while visitors should not be put off attending cemeteries they should take some basic precautions.
“For their own protection, children should not be allowed to roam free in cemeteries until the health and safety review is completed and people should avoid leaning on gravestones.
“To make the memorials safe the Council will conduct a proper risk assessment and implement a works programme. This will start in the spring.
“Herefordshire Council will be extremely sympathetic to the needs of gravestone owners and letters will be sent to individuals informing them if works are needed.
“The Council will also stage a public open day at Hereford Cemetery, on March 18, from 10am – 2pm, when officers will be on hand to explain the reasons for the work and how it will be done.”
For more information contact Herefordshire Council’s Bereavement Services on (01432) 383200.
