Amber Valley Borough Council will soon begin safety testing of memorials in cemeteries across the borough. This essential work is carried out to ensure the safety of visitors, staff, and contractors by identifying and addressing any memorials that may pose a risk of falling or causing injury.
Memorials found to be unsafe will be carefully stabilised. In most cases, this involves attaching the memorial to a wooden stake placed discreetly behind the headstone and affixing a label to indicate that the headstone is unsafe. In certain circumstances, where a memorial cannot be secured, it may be necessary to lay the memorial flat to prevent accidents.
The labels will include the Council’s contact details so that grave owners can seek further advice. We would like to remind owners that memorials remain their property and responsibility. It is the responsibility of the grave owner to arrange for repairs to be carried out by a qualified monumental mason. For safety and quality assurance, all work must be undertaken by a mason registered with the British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons (BRAMM) and completed to BRAMM’s recommended standards.
We understand the sensitive nature of this work and appreciate that it may cause concern for some. Please be assured that every effort will be made to carry out these checks with the utmost care and respect. If you have any questions or require further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us using the details provided on the labels.
Thank you for your understanding and co-operation as we carry out this important safety work.
The council has responsibility for managing and maintaining 6 cemeteries, these are located at:
Cemetery maps can be found in the 'useful links' section of this page and provides more information on individual cemeteries, you can also view our interactive map. Crosshill cemetery is not available in map format - this cemetery is closed for new burials, interments can only take place in re-open graves.
In year 2000 Amber Valley Borough Council adopted the charter for the bereaved. The Institute of Cemetery & Crematorium Management (ICCM) produced the charter to improve the services offered to the bereaved. The charter defines the rights of every individual who experiences bereavement and is intended to set standards of service and improve choice.
The council is committed to following the '33 rights' identified in the charter and is continually seeking to improve the burial service for all its users. The charter 'rights' are available to view on request at the Town Hall, Ripley.
Landscape services maintain to an agreed specification to include:
The grass is cut on a 14 to 21 day cycle depending on the growing season. All the cemeteries are maintained as traditional lawned areas with the exception of the woodland at Belper cemetery.
Contact the team directly on 01773 841565 or email cemeteries@ambervalley.gov.uk
