The practice of staking headstones which did not pass a “topple test” as a safety measure has been enforced by Ashfield District Council for a number of years.

But the Council, taking on board new guidance on the safety of headstones issued by the Ministry of Justice and recommendations resulting from consultation with the local funeral directors and stonemasons, has reviewed its cemeteries policy.

The new policy, which was received at a recent Cabinet meeting, will adopt a more risk based approach to cemetery safety and where memorials are found to be unsafe every effort will be made to contact the grave owner to discuss options on how to resolve it. Stakes will not be routinely used.

If a meeting of the Council ratifies the new Policy at its meeting of 29th October, all stakes could be removed from memorials at Kingsway, Huthwaite, Sutton and Hucknall Cemeteries within six months, with the headstones then re-assessed under the more flexible risk assessment process as contained in the new Policy.

Head of Neighbourhood Services, Edd de Coverly said:

“The Council has been very aware of the emotive effect the practice of staking headstones has had on people. The practice was carried out to ensure the safety of people visiting the cemeteries, and is something that many Local Authorities have done.

“We welcome the updated guidance from the Ministry of Justice and are pleased that as a result of consulting with local experts, a more discreet alternative has been reached and if the Council approves the policy on Thursday every effort will be made to remove the stakes from the cemeteries as soon as possible.”

He added that all affected headstones would still be subject to risk assessment under the new policy.