IT was initially thought that moles were the cause of damage to the headstones at Holsworthy Cemetery that have been laid flat on the ground, however, Torridge District Council have confirmed it is in fact part of a three yearly safety check.

A resident of Holsworthy contacted the Post, to say that at the last count ‘there was over 90 mole-holes’.

Crispin King, in a letter to the Post, said: “I contacted the Post over three years ago to report that there was a mole invasion in Holsworthy Cemetery.”

Torridge District Council has responded to this suggestion and explained that the damage is unlikely to have been caused by the activity of the moles.

Andrew Waite, Torridge District Council’s property services manager said: “The council is aware of issues with ‘moles’ at the Holsworthy cemetery, which we are dealing with via a pest control company. However the comment that the moles are damaging the headstones is incorrect.

“The council have recently been undertaking a regular safety inspection of all headstones, as part of a routine three yearly cycle. Several memorials were deemed sufficiently unsafe/unstable to warrant immediate attention and were ‘laid flat’ to make them safe. None of the memorials laid down were deemed unsafe due to activity of the moles.”

Torridge District Council engineers carried out an inspection and safety audit of Holsworthy cemetery to ensure that the environment is compliant and safe for the public.

Mr Waite said: “Torridge DC engineers carry out Safety Audits on all cemeteries in the Torridge District area in order to make sure that the environment is compliant and safe as the Council has a duty of care to the public. On this occasion the Safety Audit at Holsworthy revealed a small number of headstones, which have become loose over time, and as such may present a risk to visitors.

“Our engineers do not believe this was caused by moles, but rather by the way in which the headstones are attached to the plinths or the ground and the condition of these attachments.”

Since 2003, gravestones in Torridge cemetaries have had to be installed with ground anchors to prevent them becoming loose.

It is the responsibility of the owner of the plot to maintain the headstone. It is hoped that the families of those buried at the cemetery, whose gravestones have been affected, get in contact with the council to ensure they are made safe and secure.

Mr Waite added: “The council normally place yellow sacks, labelled with a warning over the headstones purely as a precaution so that members of the public are aware of the potential danger while we try to contact the owners of the plots. It is the responsibility of the owners to maintain their headstones and graves, and to make sure they are safe.

“In the event that the council is unable to trace the family that the grave belongs to, we will, if necessary, remove any dangerous headstones and lay them flat on the ground.

“Since 2003 the council has insisted that all headstones erected in our cemeteries have been done so with ground anchors to stop them subsequently becoming loose.”

Mr King informed the Post of the gravestones in Holsworthy cemetery that have been placed flat on the ground are: Mr Thomas John Westaway Oke (grave number 43); Mr William Henry Crabb; Mrs Vera Millicent Jewell; Mrs Amy Maria Orchard (grave number 130); Mrs Claire Muriel Cousin (grave number 72); Mrs Primrose Mary Vanstone (grave number 144).

There is a special note on one headstone as well, which is broken and lying on the ground. It is the headstone of Mr Willaim F Glover.

Mr King said: “I do hope the families of those I have mentioned can come along to the cemetery and see for themselves and to make them safe and secure.”