Between April and July last year, following all available legislation and guidance an external contractor completed a memorial safety programme for all memorials within the Cemetery on Mersea Road.

Letters were posted to last known grave owners explaining that the memorial had been identified as unsafe and requesting that contact is made with a BRAMM (British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons) registered stonemason to undertake the necessary repairs.

We now need to re-test the previously identified unsafe memorials to ascertain which ones have subsequently been made safe.

The same external contractor will be carrying out the re-testing at the beginning of July.

The main piece of legislation in this instance is LACO (Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977) which states that Burial Authorities have a duty to maintain a burial ground in good order. This is supported by the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, the Ministry of Justice and the ICCM (Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management).

Memorial safety inspections must be carried out every 5 years.