Throughout November Amber Valley Borough Council will be carrying out a Memorial Safety Inspection Programme in all its cemeteries.
All memorials and headstones will be tested to ensure that they are not in danger of falling over. Any large memorials that are found to be of immediate danger will be laid flat to safeguard members of the public from injury. Where possible, memorials that are no more than three feet in height will be secured using a temporary support system.
Councillor Jack Brown, Cabinet Member for Clean and Green at Amber Valley Borough Council, said: “The Council has a responsibility for the welfare of all visitors to its cemeteries. Once a headstone is found to be unsafe we have a duty of care to make sure it is made safe immediately in order to avoid the risk of injury to the public.
“However I would like to assure any memorial owners and bereaved families that the checks are carried out by a team of trained officers who will ensure that any work is carried out in a sensitive and respectful manner.”
The grave owner or their next of kin is responsible for ensuring the memorial is repaired and maintained in a safe condition. The Council will attempt to contact the owner or next of kin to inform them if their memorial has failed the safety check. Details will also be listed in notices posted in the cemetery. If, after three months, the owner has not contacted the Council to advise of any repair work the memorial will be laid flat.
The memorial safety inspections will be carried out at the following cemeteries:
- Alfreton Cemetery - Rodgers Lane, Alfreton,
- Leabrooks Cemetery - Cemetery Road, Leabrooks, Alfreton
- Belper Cemetery - Matlock Road, Broadholme, Belper
- Heanor Cemetery - Ilkeston Road, Heanor
- Ripley Cemetery - Cemetery Lane, Ripley
- Crosshill Cemetery – Crosshill, Codnor
Ends.
For further information please contact Lisa Garnham, PR and Communications Manager at Amber Valley Borough Council, on 01773 841655.
