A total of 1,140 headstones have been dismantled and “socketed” into the ground at cemeteries across the region without relatives being properly notified.
Dumfries and Galloway Council hired contractors to make safe older headstones at 13 graveyards during 2019 and 2020.
However the work has this week been described by a councillor as an “absolute botch-up”.
The local authority has also admitted that no permissions were sought from Historic Environment Scotland (HES) – despite work being done in listed cemeteries requiring special consent.
According to Mid and Upper Nithsdale Councillor Andrew Wood, Sanquhar Cemetery – where 188 headstones were dismantled – is a B-listed graveyard.
He has been trying to get answers from the council on behalf of constituents, and is now taking the matter to the Scottish Government’s public petitions committee.
Mr Wood said: “Dumfries and Galloway has not followed the guidance set out clearly by the Scottish Government.
“Within the legislation it states quite clearly that every headstone should have its own risk assessment done. The reason for that is the variety of locations these headstones can be in and the composition of that headstone.
“They should not be automatically socketed into the ground. There are several other methods that could have been applied.”
The council had approved the work to improve safety for cemetery visitors, which included removing some headstones deemed unsafe from their plinths.
They were then trenched into the ground and in some cases part of the inscriptions were buried.
Instead of properly informing relatives, small signs were placed at cemetery entrances, which resulted in emotional distress and sparked complaints about vandalism.
It is understood that the council hired a Welsh company to do the headstone work, but questions are now being asked over this appointment.
Councillor Wood insisted that the council procurement process has “serious failings”, and added: “I’m sure they have realised just what an absolute botch-up they’ve made.”
Penpont man David Drife, who is seeking £2,000 compensation for damage to four family headstones at Sanquhar Cemetery, said: “It’s a complete shambles. The council are in a corner and they don’t know where to move.”
Following a Freedom of Information request, the council provided details of the number of headstones that had been “socketed” during two phases of work in 2019 and 2020.
They figures are: Dryfesdale – 122, Dryfesdale Parish – 26, St Michaels (New) – 195, Annan ChurchYard – 1, Ecclefechan – 8, Dumfries High – 325, Moffat New – 162, St Michael’s (South) – 17, Kirkconnel – 35, Morton – 16, Sanquhar – 188, St Mary’s, Dumfries – 16, and Troqueer – 29.
When asked how many applications for consent were made to HES, the council responded: “None, the position regarding late listed building consent and discussions with Historic Scotland is currently being addressed.”
A spokesperson for HES said: “If a burial ground is protected as a scheduled monument, Historic Environment Scotland is the consenting authority and planned works would need consent in advance.
“In a situation where a scheduled gravestone was deemed a health and safety concern, essential work, limited to the minimum measures immediately necessary, could be carried out and Historic Environment Scotland could be notified afterwards.”
