BARRY Town Council (BTC), is undertaking an inspection of headstones within its cemeteries.

The ongoing programme is to check the condition of memorial headstones in accordance with health and safety legislation.

Any found to be unsafe and likely to cause serious injury may be laid flat or “lowered down” into the excavated area at the head of the grave in front of the memorial base to enable some or all the inscription to remain visible.

Alternatively, the memorial may be “staked and banded” by the council memorial inspector. The stakes and bands are attached to the memorials to ensure the danger of the memorial in question falling and cause damage or harm to staff and visitors to the cemetery is reduced. This is part of a programme introduced by government legislation so it is an offence for the bands to be removed by anyone other than the memorial inspector or a memorial mason engaged to carry out repairs to the memorial on behalf of the family.

A memorial is the responsibility of the grave owner. Any memorials erected since November 2001 should not be affected as long as they were installed to the NAMM & BRAMM standards.  The programme has been devised to ensure the memorials that pose the greatest risk are dealt with first.

If you have any concerns about the testing or want information about how to make your memorial safe, call the cemetery office during normal working hours on 01446 738663, or email

Alternatively, write to Barry Town Council, Town Hall, Kings Square, Barry, CF63 4RW.

Memorials inspected in the most recent round of inspections In Merthyr Dyfan Cemetery include:

• Q64 O Callaghan
• Q124 Munro
• AA463 Collard
• AA495 Drinkwater
• AA498 Jeffery
• AA499 Webber.

Relatives of the above, or anyone who knows anyone related to those interred in the graves, are being asked to contact Barry Town Council.

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