MyEDC

    Technical Notes 2026, Issue 2 - Headstone Inspection and Make Safe Programme – Update

    • Report by:

      Ann Davie, Chief Executive

    • TN Number:

      002-26

    • Subject:

      Headstone Inspection and Make Safe Programme – Update

    • Responsible Officer:

      Stephen Egan, Team Leader - Streetscene Technical Support

    • Publication:

      This Technical Note will be published on the Council’s website following circulation to Members. Its contents may be disclosed or shared outwith the Council.

    • This Technical note has been written to update Elected Members on the ongoing Inspection and make safe programme for Headstones and Memorials within Cemeteries and Churchyards in East Dunbartonshire.
    • East Dunbartonshire has a combination of 11 Cemeteries and Churchyards across the district. Within these locations there are approximately 18000 memorials a number of which are over 100 years old.
    • Although the Headstones and Memorials are not owned by the Council, it does have a duty of care to ensure that these do not pose any risk to staff working within these locations or indeed those who are visiting. The Council will undertake temporary measures to ensure they are made safe however Lair Holders are ultimately responsible for the full repairs, and they should approach an accredited stonemason to undertake these works.
    • Officers have been liaising with specialist contractors with regard to both the inspections and make safe programme – all works are now complete within Old Aisle Cemetery in Kirkintilloch.
    • The inspection programme has also been completed at Campsie Churchyard/Cemetery and New Kilpatrick Churchyard – regrettably significant failures have been noted at both sites – particularly Campsie.
    •  Within Campsie Cemetery and Churchyard some 800 stones out of just 1900 inspected require a level of work to make safe – this has commenced and will continue towards the early spring of the year. This has involved in some cases lowering and repositioning a number of large stones specifically around the Churchyard. Within the Cemetery the stones are in the main smaller and these will be secured via staking and banding – again this will continue into the spring of the year.
    • Signage has been placed at the entrances to the location, and the both the Churchyard and Cemetery will remain open during the works.
    • Within New Kilpatrick Churchyard some 624 Headstones and Memorials were inspected with 117 requiring an element of works to make safe - these works will be programmed for the spring of this year.
    • In May 2026, the next phase of inspections will commence in Cadder Cemetery in Bishopbriggs, and a further update will be provided via a technical note on completion.