Thousands of gravestones in the region could be laid flat under new controversial topple tests, it emerged today.
Headstones in Wolverhampton and Cannock Chase are being retested to make sure they are not at risk of falling.
Yesterday council officers in Cannock began checking more than 900 memorials which previously failed tests at Wolseley Cemetery in Rugeley and Cannock Cemetery, in Pye Green Road.
The tests will take place every Monday at Wolseley Cemetery from this week until May 12 at a rate of around 35 each week.
In Wolverhampton, council workers are examining Beacon Hill Cemetery in Bilston this month. Headstones deemed a risk to the public will be fitted with a temporary support and the owner contacted about repairs.
Council chiefs said the cemetery, in Dovedale Road, would be treated with sensitivity and safety in mind.
A survey in 2005 found 446 gravestones in Wolverhampton were highly unstable, and older memorials could be laid flat if they are considered unsafe until a permanent fix is found.
Sarah Hammond, from Cannock Chase Council’s bereavement services, said: “We are only testing those headstones which failed before and families can contact us to find out when their headstone is going to be tested and can arrange an appointment to be there.” Officers will examine 113 headstones at Wolseley deemed unsafe and likely to be laid flat.
Around 780 headstones could be laid flat at Cannock Cemetery where tests will begin on May 19.
Any headstone which has been properly repaired by a certified stonemason with the council’s knowledge will not be retested.
The safety tests involve a push test by officers and in Cannock, a standard 35kg or 77lb weight test. In Wolverhampton 25kg or 55lb of pressure is applied.
There was uproar in Wombourne last year when more than 1,000 relatives of people buried at St Benedict Biscop churchyard demanded the tests be stopped after more than 600 monuments failed and were propped up by wooden stakes. Families face bills of hundreds to make stones safe.
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7 Comments
How many people have been injured by a toppling headstone? REALLY??
The world has gone mad! If this isn’t the biggest case of ‘jobs worth’ I’ll eat my hat!
no justice its about the greedy so and sos in councils making more money from the public.
Get snouts out the trough party.
This is a message from the press office at Wolverhampton City Council. I would like to point out to your readers that the headline on this story is completely incorrect. There will be no gravestones laid flat in Wolverhampton. Any that are in danger of toppling over will be made safe by a professional stonemason.
Some people who have left comments about this story seem to be under the impression that the council is making money from this process. This is simply not the case. The council is paying for all of these repairs, we are not charging anybody for the work.
tim clark if the councils paying who pays the council santa claus as anyone been hurt by falling headstones or is this just justifying someones job
Wolverhampton Council have a large forest of money trees which it gets it’s money from. There is one, or more planted in every household in the Wolverhampton borough and it is called the Muggins Tree.
So - has anyone ever been hurt by a falling headstone? Come on Wolverhampton, talk to me! If anyone has, they deserve the ‘being in the wrong place at the wrong time’ award.
Actually Justice, several people have been KILLED by falling headstones throughout the country - not just hurt.