ALMOST 700 headstones in an Irvine cemetery have been deemed “unsafe” by their inspectors.

According to North Ayrshire Council’s Memorial Inspection Team, 668 gravestones are have failed their safety test in Knadgerhill alone. 

Each headstone has been tagged with a North Ayrshire Council ‘failed’ sticker which advises relatives of the deceased to contact their Bereavement Services for information.

Relatives are then given the option of the council repairing the headstone at a cost £218.

However relatives are also advised that they are free to go to privately run memorial mason businesses to pay them to carry out the work.

Irvine Times:

Potentially, if the council repaired every headstone they have deemed to be ‘unsafe’ they could receive £145,624, although a council spokesman insisted this week it was unlikely NAC would make that amount from the repairs.

He said the council had an obligation to keep local cemeteries safe and pointed out that other firms, including the Co-Op, could carry out the repair work and potentially make the same amount. 

North Ayrshire Council has 41 cemeteries - 12 of which are in regular use and despite spending £1.4million on them per year, council chiefs have also come under fire for the general state of repair of Knadgerhill from one Irvine resident.

The woman, who was visiting her mother’s grave blasted the general state of the cemetery saying it has gone “downhill in recent years”.

The 56-year-old, who asked not to be named, said: “I have been coming to Knadgerhill Cemetery for some years now as both my parents are buried here and it used to be beautifully kept and a very nice and peaceful place to come and grieve. Now it’s in a state. 

“The roads have huge potholes in them, paths are overgown with moss, there’s beer cans strewn around, broken headstones left to rot and the wee communal garden areas are overgrown with weeds. 

Irvine Times:

“It makes me very sad to come here now. I wish the council would invest in their cemeteries because people really get comfort from coming here so to see the place in this state can be quite distressing.”

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “Overall expenditure to provide a service and infrastructure for our cemeteries has remained consistent with approximately £1.4 million spent each year. Litterpicking, weedkilling and the planting of summer bedding has all recently been completed at Knadgerhill Cemetery and will allow for ongoing maintenance to be kept to an acceptable standard.

“The infrastructure such as walls, roads and pathways have recently been surveyed and we are in the process of drawing up a programme of repairs. While the condition of the headstones is the responsibility of the title holder, the council has an overall responsibility for safety within cemeteries.

“Our dedicated memorial inspection team regularly carry out inspections and place stickers on headstones if they pose a risk. We may have to stake and tie or lay flat headstones if they pose a risk.“