Council defends decision to put stickers on graves

The stickers covering up names was called ‘disgusting’ by visitors

BBC A black gravestone with gold lettering at Riddrie Park Cemetery - the first name of the deceased is Michael, but the surname has been covered by a large sticker saying WARNING with a exclamation mark in a yellow box — The stickers covering up names was called ‘disgusting’ by visitors

Visitors to cemeteries in Glasgow have criticised a “disgusting” decision by the city council to place large stickers on gravestones.

The warning labels – which in some cases have been placed directly over the deceased’s name – state that the memorial has been inspected and failed safety standards.

The local authority said the move was a way to reach out to families where it was uncertain who had responsibility for maintaining the memorial.

However, the labels have sparked anger on social media, where people accused the local authority of being disrespectful towards the dead.

Sami Tollett was visiting Riddrie Park Cemetery to see her father’s resting place when she noticed a number of graves around it had the prominent stickers displayed.

Although her dad’s grave was not affected, she told BBC Scotland News it was still upsetting to see.

She said: “It’s disgusting and morally wrong to deface somebody’s resting place.

“It’s actually sad to see. It used to be a lovely place, well kept and maintained, but now it’s an eyesore. It’s even worse with the big stickers all over the headstones.”

A number of graves across the city have had the stickers applied

Three graves in Riddrie cemetery - the left hand one is a reddish brown and has a warning sticker applied, while the right hand one is grey and also has a sticker applied. The one in the centre is grey and unlabeled. — A number of graves across the city have had the stickers applied

Gravestones are looked after privately, rather than by the city council itself, with families usually hiring a stone mason to work on them.

A second woman told BBC Scotland that she saw the stickers while visiting Lambhill cemetery in the north of the city.

She said many of them were “covering up the people’s names.”

She added: “It looks terrible to think your loved ones are lying here and on their stones are a big white sticker.”

Glasgow City Council said the stickers helped them contact families

A gravestone in Riddrie Park Cemetery. It is very worn, and has a warning sticker applied to it. — Glasgow City Council said the stickers helped them contact families

Glasgow City Council said the stickers were placed due it being “very challenging” to track down who had responsibility for some of the graves.

A spokesman said: “The safety of those working in and visiting our cemeteries is an absolute priority.

“Regular inspections of headstones is a statutory obligation for the council but the maintenance and upkeep of any memorial is a matter for the owner.

“However, as owners themselves pass on, identifying a person to take responsibility for headstone maintenance can become very challenging.

“Applying these notices to headstones is an effective way to reach out to families and they have helped us to make contact with people who have an interest in undertaking necessary repairs.”