Inverness’s Tomnahurich Cemetery sees hundreds of gravestones judged by Highland Council as not safe

Almost 400 gravestones at an Inverness cemetery have been deemed to be in a 'dangerous condition' or 'possibly unstable'.

Wooden structures have been set up around a total of 389 gravestones at Tomnahurich Cemetery in a bid to warn people of the safety of the memorials.

Signs for ‘possibly unstable’ memorials ask people not to push, pull or lean on them.

A woman, who was visiting her mother’s grave, was eager to highlight the issue.

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“I was shocked and upset when I saw these structures,” she said. “It seemed like they were everywhere.

“They look really awful and I don’t know what other families will think of them.”

Where possible, relatives have been informed about the situation, said a Highland Council spokeswoman.

A man, who lives near the cemetery, said: “Some gravestones have already fallen over and been left on the ground. They are over a 100 years old.

“Some of the ones with wooden supports don’t look that unsteady. It’s not clear how whoever was doing the assessing determined that they are at risk of falling over. The Stoltman brothers [Invergordon-based international strongmen] would be good to see how firm they are in the ground!”

The council spokeswoman pointed out that it is ‘lair holder’ is responsible for keeping any memorial clean and in a safe condition, as judged by a council official.

“If the lair holder fails to make safe a memorial 21 days after written notice to the lair holder at their last known address, the council shall be entitled at the holder's expense either to repair any memorials on that lair, lay the memorial flat, or have them removed in the name of public safety.

“Until the cost of such repairs or removals are paid, any further rights associated with the lair shall be withheld. Sometimes memorials are too unstable to leave standing for 21 days and will be laid flat immediately, and the council will seek to notify the lair holder in this instance. The council is not bound to re-erect any memorial.

“The lair holder is advised to avail themselves of appropriate insurance cover in relation to their memorial.”

Where a ‘lair holder’ is deceased, their legal successors assume liability.

A council spokeswoman added: “389 headstones have had signs placed beside them.

“Our burials team try to contact living lair holders where possible. Headstones are not owned by Highland Council and it is the responsibility of lair holders and their families to facilitate repairs.

“We carry out temporary repairs, usually by bracing the stones to ensure the cemetery is safe for members of public, staff and contractors.”

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