Gravestones may be laid flat

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.