Headstones being checked

From Monday, September 27, a company commissioned by Rotherham Borough Council will be inspecting and testing memorials in the following closed churchyards and cemeteries, which are all managed by the authority:

St. James' Churchyard, Aston; the Constable Road Cemetery and St. Leonards Churchyard, both in Dinnington; St. Mary's Churchyard, Rawmarsh; St. John the Baptist Churchyard, Hooton Roberts; St Thomas' Churchyard, Kilnhurst; St. Helen's Churchyard and Cemetery, Treeton; and St. John the Baptist Churchyard and Cemetery, Wales.

The authority is endeavouring to alert all relatives of the work through public notices, letters to the relevant clergy and parish councils and signage in those graveyards being tested.

Although 'closed' to further burials, the work is necessary to ensure the safety of those visiting or working in these particular cemeteries and is a continuation of the testing of all churchyards and cemeteries across the Borough, which began in 2002.

Any memorials found to be 'immediately dangerous' will be made safe at the time of testing with the memorials being laid down on the ground.

Memorials that are unstable, but not immediately dangerous, i.e. those requiring further intervention to make them stable, will be identified through a sticker requesting the relatives of the deceased to contact Rotherham Borough Council, so stabilisation work can be arranged.

Anyone requiring further information about the testing should contact Rotherham Borough Council's Culture and Leisure Services department on 01709 850344.