U-turn on council toppling headstones

Nov 13 2008 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

COUNCIL chiefs are set for a U-turn over cemetery headstones.

Action over unsafe gravestones will now only be reported if they are deemed a risk.

A new policy will be introduced to test memorials before contacting relatives to say if there is a problem or not.

In the past Kirklees Council has written to all known owners of gravestones informing them before memorials will be safety tested. Council workmen have also laid down headstones – causing anguish for relatives.

But the new policy, set to be approved by the council’s Cabinet later this month, will help to reduce distress for loved ones.

The council will only write to a known grave owner if there is a safety risk to the headstone and action needs to be taken.

Memorials will only be laid down by the council if there is no alternative.

It follows new advice from the Health and Safety Executive.