Council to test safety of cemetery headstones

Dangerous markers will be laid flat

Safety inspections are to be carried out at cemeteries across Perth and Kinross.

Headstones in Blair Atholl and Jeanfield, Perth, will be tested in the new year to check they pose no risk to the public, particularly the older structures.

They will be followed by inspections in Auchterarder, Blairgowrie, Dunkeld, Dunning, Meigle and Muthill.

Perth and Kinross Council has apologised in advance for any upset during the inspections.

A spokeswoman said: “All checks will be carried out by qualified professional officers, who will ensure these are done with the utmost respect.”

All inspections will be recorded, and any headstones that fail the test and are deemed to be unsafe will be laid flat or

All checks will be carried out by qualified professional officers, who will ensure these are done with the utmost respect. PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL SPOKESWOMAN

fenced off. The lair’s owner will then be notified.

The council spokeswoman added: “Should it not be possible to trace the owner, the headstone will be made safe again by digging it partially into the ground to ensure it is not damaged or causes further hazard to users and visitors to the cemetery.”

Earlier this year, dozens of stones were sealed off at Greyfriars in Perth, where some of the monuments were deemed at risk of collapse, with three branded “dangerous”.

The majority of stones in need of repair were described by surveyors as “rocking”, while a large proportion of headstones have an overhead artefact that needs securing.

The council recently secured permission to remove and repair them.

Ahead of the safety inspection, which gets under way on January 6, lair owners are being urged to contact the council’s bereavement services and flag up any change in ownership or address.

All cemeteries will be tested in line with the Scottish Government’s guidance on memorial safety.

Picture: Kim Cessford. Unsafe headstones at Greyfriars in Perth.