Cemeteries Public Notice - 27 January 2023

Notice is hereby given that North Devon Council intends to carry out Memorial Safety Testing in Bear Street Cemetery, Barnstaple and Marlborough Road Cemetery, Ilfracombe

To ensure the safety of all visitors and staff, North Devon Council will begin a rolling programme of memorial safety testing commencing March 2023.

The date will depend on the location of the grave. This programme will be carried out with respect and in accordance with guidance issued by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM) and The Ministry of Justice in order to meet the legal obligations under Health and Safety Legislation.

Each memorial will be tested visually followed by a hand test for stability by trained inspectors. Where a memorial is identified as unsafe, the management have a responsibility to ensure that it is made safe at the earliest opportunity. A notice will be placed on the grave and safety measures applied. In cases where the memorial is found to be an immediate hazard the memorial may be temporarily supported, cordoned off or laid flat.

Whilst North Devon Council has responsibility for the safety of the cemeteries, it does not own the memorials. We will make every attempt to contact memorial owner in order for them to meet their responsibilities to maintain and make the memorial safe. Cemetery Regulations require that repairs must be carried out by a registered Memorial Mason to British Standard 8415.

If you are concerned your memorial will fall before testing takes place or you would like more information about the safety testing procedure please contact:

 

The Cemeteries Officer

North Devon Council

North Devon Crematorium

Old Torrington Road

Barnstaple EX31 3NW

01271 345431
cemeteries@northdevon.gov.uk