By SUZANNE ELSWORTH

A MASSIVE initiative has been launched to make the town's cemeteries safer and council chiefs want to ensure that the issue is tackled sensitively.

There are 35,000 graves at the Warrington and Fox Covert cemeteries and the town's nine closed churchyards, and every one of these will be inspected to ensure that it is safe.

The move follows the death of a child in Harrogate in an accident involving a cemetery memorial. In total, four children nationally have died in such incidents.

If it is found that a headstone is unsafe, it will be laid flat or cordoned off. Some relatives have been shocked to find that their loved ones' headstones have been moved without warning, but in many cases the cemeteries department has been unable to trace the grave's owners to tell them about the safety problem.

There have also been problems with spiked railings, fencing, kerbs and planting being erected around graves, causing safety issues and also difficulties for maintenance staff.

Angela Dunn, the manager of Warrington Crematorium, which is responsible for the cemeteries, said: "It may be the case that the owner has died and the relatives have not transferred the ownership, or the owner may have moved house. People don't automatically think about contacting us.

"This is a sensitive subject and we are not being bureaucratic, but safety is a priority. If we find that a headstone is unsafe, we have got to take immediate action."

Early investigations in Warrington show that more than 140 memorials are potential hazards. Many are unsafe, unstable and pose a risk to the public, often crumbling due to age.

As well as setting up an audit system to record the names and addresses of owners, the team is also setting up a memorial masons registration scheme, where anyone wishing to work in Warrington cemeteries must be approved and registered with the council.

And members of the public interested in preserving and improving conditions at the cemeteries are being urged to come forward to join consultation groups. These groups will help to find the best ways of dealing with issues such as a cemetery extension, car parking, burials and unauthorised memorials.

To register a change of address, write to Angela at the crematorium, Walton Road. If you are interested in joining a consultation group or would like details of registered masons, call the crematorium on 267731.