Unsafe gravestones to be laid down

Gravestones deemed to be unsafe in the Welshpool area will be laid down from next month, the county council has revealed.

An inspections programme of memorials in Powys County Council’s cemeteries will start in February to ensure that they are safe places to visit.

The council has told us that inspecting contractors will identify memorials in one of three categories: 

Category 1: unsafe and in need of immediate attention

Category 2: unstable but unlikely to cause an immediate health and safety risk

Category 3: stable and no action required

A Category 1 memorial will be laid down or made safe by other means at the time of inspection. A red notice will be placed on the memorial/grave advising that the memorial is unsafe and providing details of how to contact the council.

A Category 2 memorial will have an amber notice placed in a suitable position on the memorial stating that the memorial is unsafe and how to contact the council. If after the expiry of six months from the date of inspection the memorial has not been fixed it will be laid down or made safe by other methods as appropriate.

Information signs have been erected on the entrance gates of the cemeteries where the inspections will take place. The council will not be attempting to identify grave owners.

Two years ago, we reported that a number of gravestones at St Mary’s Church had been laid down following a diocese five-year inspection, leaving the church with no option but to try and track down relatives of the deceased.

Welshpool County Councillor, Richard Church, Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys, said: “Specialist staff will be carrying out inspections as part of a county programme and any memorial that is identified at risk of falling will be laid down or made safe by other means.

“We appreciate that many people care about the memorials to their loved ones and we want people to be aware that these inspections are underway.

“We have to be sure that our cemeteries are a safe place to visit and any memorials that are potentially dangerous are made secure.”

More information on the inspections is available from the council’s Environmental Protection Service by emailing environmental.protection@powys.gov.uk or calling 01938 551300.

PICTURE: A stock picture from an unnamed graveyard.