During a safety inspection of the memorials in the Blackawton Cemetery twenty-three memorials were identified as being unsafe.
An unsafe memorial is one that moves under gentle pressure, and that would continue to move and fall if the pressure was maintained. The memorial could fall if, for example it is used to lean against or to pull up from a kneeling position when tending the grave.
Memorials are very heavy and could cause severe bruising or broken bones if it they were to fall on anybody visiting or working in the cemetery.
To make the memorial safe it must be re-fixed by a qualified and accredited memorial mason in accordance with the relevant British Standard for the installation of memorials in burial grounds.
The family or owner of the memorial may wish to approach the memorial mason who originally erected the memorial, or you may ask another mason to carry out the work for you. The Clerk can provide you with a list of memorial masons.
Works must be approved by the Parish Council before they are carried out.
The application form can be downloaded here:
Blackawton Cemetery Application – new memorial or works to memorial
The Parish Council apologises for any upset that this process may cause you.
Please contact the Parish Clerk or your Councillors if you have any questions or require further information.