22/06/2026
West Lothian Council Cemeteries Officer has asked that we share the following information regarding Whitburn Cemetery, Manse Road:
The Council has been undertaking inspection and safety works on memorial headstones at Whitburn Cemetery. The council have a 5-year rolling programme of inspection as required by the Scottish Government.
Lair holders are responsible for the repair of headstones. The council highlight safety issues to lair holders to inform the facilitation of these repairs. However, if a headstone is of immediate safety concern the council will make the headstone safe itself i.e. to ensure the safety of cemetery visitors.
Headstones that have failed our inspection have been taped or stickered and may be laid flat or have been sheughed in i.e. buried upright to stabilise. These headstones have failed the topple test. This involves exerting the equivalent of a 25Kg force against the stone (the weight of a small child). Where there is movement, there is some risk that the headstone could fall on someone or fall and break if the lair or an adjoining lair is being prepared for a funeral. Larger headstones over one metre are of most concern. Please note the Council is dealing with the larger stones of most concern by sheughing them in. Unfortunately, this can obscure some inscriptions. While laying flat is lower cost, laying flat of larger headstones can prohibit grounds maintenance and will accelerate loss of inscription through exposure to rain and accumulation of debris etc.
Recent works have concentrated on older headstones where there has been no recorded burial for 50 years. However, we will now be dealing with the headstones that have had a recorded burial in the last 50 years, and no family member has yet come forward to initiate repairs.
Apologies for any distress and anxiety caused by this inspection and safety work that is being carried out in the interests of public safety.
We would encourage families that have lairs in the Cemetery to visit their lairs to see if there are any issues with their family headstone(s). If your family headstone has been taped or stickered please contact the council and facilitate a repair through a qualified stone mason. Please note the lair number and section are often inscribed on the side of the headstone plinth for reference.
For more information, please see
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