Memorial safety in local authority cemeteries
This the first joint special report to be issued with the Local Government Ombudsmen in England. We have investigated numerous complaints, finding councils at fault because of: failure to ensure adequate publicity/notification before carrying out stability testing or laying down individual monuments which failed the test; not having proper systems in place for risk assessment and subsequent prioritisation of work; lack of proper training for those carrying out testing; and failure to take account of ways in which memorials can be made safe without laying down.
If councils in Wales take note and learn from the good practice set out in this Special Report, then they should be able to ensure public safety whilst avoiding the degree of upset and distress to members of the public that has sometimes been caused in the past.
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