Bereaved get stern warning (From Gazette Series)

Bereaved get stern warning

RESIDENTS in Berkeley whose loved ones are buried in the town's cemetery have three weeks left to remove decorative items or face a bill from the burial board.

Owners of graves in Berkeley Cemetery received a letter from the burial board committee in late October asking them to repair loose headstones and remove items such as gravel, bark, kerbing and trees which have been placed by graves as decoration.

The letter was sent to owners of graves after the cemetery received a health and safety check in September. The inspection highlighted a number of breaches of regulations and cemetery rules.

Owners of graves at the cemetery have been given until January 1, 2006 to remove the items and repair loose headstones. The burial board has informed owners that if the rules are not adhered to then the board will flatten loose stones and remove items themselves, passing the cost on to the owners.

Ralf Pinnell, chairman of Berkeley Burial Committee, said that peoples' safety is important and rules must be followed.

He said: "We have to have health and safety checks on a regular basis.

"The last health and safety check showed us what was unsafe and what had to go. We have now written to those families asking them to do something about it. "Loose headstones, gravel and planting trees is all in breach of the regulations.

"We have only written to those where there is a real problem asking them to return graves to how they should be.

"We will be removing items and laying down stones if they are deemed unsafe and have not been dealt with by family by January. We will then, if we can, pass on the cost."