DOLVIN Road Cemetery in Tavistock will soon be re-opened to the public after almost five months of closure. Members of the town council's property committee were pleased to hear the cemetery will re-open in approximately four weeks' time, during their meeting last Tuesday. The cemetery was closed in December last year following an incident where a member of the council's staff fell through the surface of an old grave when a sizeable tree branch smashed through it, revealing a large space. It appeared that old burials involved the coffins being covered with a slate 'lid' on top of which a thin crust of earth was placed for multiple or family burials. But when the coffins disintegrated a void was left with the thin slate covering it decaying and collapsing when pressure was placed on top. Staff tested for voids and found large areas of the cemetery seemed to have dangerous voids below. The site was closed to the public. Professional burial associations were consulted to discover the extent of the danger, and a consultant was approached to undertake a ground radar survey. The work was undertaken with the geotechnical consultant and the anomalies were identified, made safe, the excavations backfilled and the paths re-installed. Signage will now be erected, the paths made more obvious and one area will be subtly fenced. Chairman of the cemetery committee, Ted Sherrell, said: 'We are sorry for the inconvenience caused to the people of the town over the closure of the cemetery, but these were very real worries over safety issues. 'With these problems now solved, it is good to see this pleasant, tranquil area open again.' Former chairman of the properties committee, Iain Andrews, said: 'That is wonderful news — it will be good to see the cemetery open again.' He continued by expressing thanks to all the councillors for the work they have put in during his time as chairman. This meeting was his last as chairman of the properties committee.
