Concerns about fallen gravestones at iconic Highland cemetery
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CONCERNS have been shared about fallen gravestones at Tomnahurich Cemetery.
A headstone that has been lying on its side for a number of months is said to give a bad impression to anyone visiting loved ones.
One woman, who does not want her name published, said: "It seems that Highland Council simply do not care about the graveyard, because there are headstones lying flat and no one has come forward to lift them.
"It just is not right, it needs to be lifted and put back into place, after someone knocked it over."
The woman said that she believed that people "from all over" come to the graveyard and that the fact that stones were not standing up gave a poor impression.
She continued: "Imagine if you were looking for your relatives and you arrive in Inverness only to discover that no one really cared."
Bill Roger, who is from Dalneigh, said he was concerned that the council is just ignoring the problem. He said: "It is a real shame that right at the entrance to the cemetery that there is a stone lying on its side.
"It gives a very bad impression."
A spokeswoman for Highland Council said the council had management rules for burial grounds and pointed to rule number 5.11.
It reads: "The lair holder shall keep any memorial clean and in a safe condition of repair of which an authorised officer shall be the sole judge.
"If the lair holder fails to make safe a memorial 21 days after written notice to the lair holder at their last known address, the council shall be entitled at the holder's expense either to repair any memorials on that lair, lay the memorial flat, or have them removed in the name of public safety.
"Until the cost of such repairs or removals are paid, any further rights associated with the lair shall be withheld.
"Sometimes memorials are too unstable to leave standing for 21 days and will be laid flat immediately, and the council will seek to notify the lair holder in this instance.
"The council is not bound to re-erect any memorial."
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