Gloucestershire council raises concerns over 'unsafe' headstones

The oldest headstone at St Cyr's dates back to 1882

Families have been asked to check whether their relatives' headstones are safe.

Concerns have been raised over the safety of 71 headstones in urgent need of repair in St Cyr's churchyard in Stonehouse.

According to the Ministry of Justice, eight people were killed by falling memorials between 1979 and 2009.

Stroud District Council has asked those connected to unsafe headstones to get in touch.

Responsibility for the maintenance of memorials lies with their owner - usually the closest family member of the deceased.Most councils now test the safety of memorials at regular intervals to prevent accidents.

Stroud District Council said that the memorials most in need of repair have been made temporarily safe and a notice has been attached to all with information about the action required.

The council added that, where records exist, the owners of the memorials have been contacted.

Councillor Chloe Turner said it is a "sensitive, but necessary measure" with the council hoping to make the churchyards it is responsible for "safe for everyone".

"Many of the memorial stones in St Cyr's Churchyard are very old - the oldest of which dates from 1882 - and often very heavy, posing a risk to visitors if they lean, or develop structural faults," Councillor Turner added.

Councillor Chloe Turner has said that many of the headstones could pose a risk to visitors

Where records of memorial owners do not exist or are out of date, those who know they have relatives buried at the churchyard have been asked to get in touch.

Stroud District Council is responsible for Brimscombe Cemetery; St Cyr's in Stonehouse; St Mary's in Rodborough; Christchurch in Chalford; St Mary's in Berkeley; Holy Trinity in Brimscombe; St Michael and All Angels in Bussage and Woodchester Cemetery.

Safety testing at St Mary's Church, Rodborough and Brimscombe Cemetery will be carried out later this year, with the remaining cemeteries tested as part of a five-year rolling plan.