Public safety a priority as headstone inspections get under way in Moray cemeteries

HEADSTONES in cemeteries in Moray are being inspected to protect the public from unsafe memorials.

In a rolling programme covering Moray’s council-owned cemeteries, starting with Deskford, the condition of headstones in each one is being examined to prevent injury to any visitors.

In line with the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management’s guidance, Moray Council staff will sensitively and thoroughly inspect memorials. This will involve applying pressure to the headstones to assess the stability of them.

Specially-trained staff will lay flat any headstone which poses an immediate threat to public safety. Other headstones which require maintenance will be noted, and inspectors will work with the registration service to identify lair holders and make contact with them.

It follows the findings of the Craigton Cemetery Fatal Accident Inquiry, which recommended the Scottish Government publish national guidance on memorial safety in cemeteries, for use by local authorities.

Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live. Nestling between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands, Moray stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Brodie Castle in the west.