From the beginning of October 2021, Monmouthshire County Council will continue its rolling programme of testing the safety of memorials in its cemeteries by checking memorials in Monmouth Cemetery.
The Council has an obligation to ensure, as best it can, the safety of those visiting or working in its cemeteries and checking of the stability of memorials is an important part of that obligation.
The testing will be carried out by trained employees and if the memorial remains stable to a pre-determined level, it is deemed to be safe.
Those memorials which fail will be made safe with a stake and a band placed around them as a short term measure. Notices will also be attached to the memorial to provide information to family members who may visit the cemetery with details of why the ‘make safe’ system had been used and details of who to contact for further information. The council will also make efforts to contact, where possible, family members to advise them of the steps they need to take to have the memorial re-erected.
If a memorial has not been re-erected within six months of test failure the council will sink the memorial headstone to a 1/3rd of its depth at the head of the grave until family arrange to have it re-erected by a Registered Memorial Mason.
Monmouthshire County Council recognises there is a potential for family members to become upset in the event of a memorial being found to be unsafe but it is hoped that those affected will understand that the overriding principle is to ensure the safety of people visiting the cemetery. If any family member has concerns about the stability of a memorial or requires further information please contact the Cemeteries Officer on 01873 735852. E-mail -cemeteries@monmouthshire.go.uk