Several gravestones in Burnham-On-Sea have been cordoned off following a health and safety check of the town’s churchyards.
Five headstones in Burnham have been deemed to be in such an unsafe condition that they have been taped off by Sedgemoor District Council to prevent visitors potentially putting themselves in danger.
Several of the headstones are in Burnham’s St Andrew’s Church on the town’s Esplanade, as pictured here.
Council spokeswoman Claire Faun explained: “The Council has taken temporary safety measures with unsafe headstones and will contact family members where possible so it can be decided how to make them safe in the long term.”
St Andrew’s church vicar, Reverend Graham Witts, said it is sad that several headstones have been singled out, but he welcomed the work.
“Unfortunately, the ravages of time, salt and wind do have an adverse effect on stones like these, but we’re pleased the work is done to keep the churchyard safe,” he told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
The council is undertaking a year-long programme of memorial testing and repairs across the district in those closed churchyards and cemeteries which it controls. The work aims to ensure the safety of those visiting and working in the graveyards.
