Widow loses fight on gravestones

Cannock Chase Council has won a legal battle over controversial safety tests on grave headstones across the district.

Campaigner Vivian Westwood took the council to court claiming the authority had incorrectly tested them and was negligent. She tried to claim damages because she said the council had damaged her parents' prayer book headstone.

The 72-year-old, of Old Fallow Avenue, claimed the authority used excessive force on the stone at Pye Green Cemetery in 2005.

Mrs Westwood, whose late husband Harold campaigned against the testing before his death last year, lost the case at Stafford County Court on March 13, and has been told to pay court costs of £75.

Cannock Chase District Council made an application to have the claim struck out.

It was found to have ensured the testing was carried within guidelines.

The judgement said: "There was no evidence of any negligence by the council or its agents" and that "Mrs Westwood could not prove her case or any loss as a result of the alleged incorrect testing process."

Mrs Westwood said: "What the council is doing is saying to people that their headstones have failed the test because they have pushed them too hard. This is all a ploy to get ground anchors on the headstones.

She added: "This has been hard, I am not well but I am doing this for Harold and he is giving me the strength to keep going."

A council spokesman said: "Given that this case has been investigated by the Local Government Ombudsman, the Health and Safety Executive and now the courts it is obvious that the council were acting in the correct manner as directed by the Health and Safety Executive."