New topple tests on church gravestones

New-style "topple" tests are to be carried out at a South Staffordshire church for the second time.

South Staffordshire Council undertook safety tests at St Benedict Biscop churchyard in Wombourne in summer 2007.

It led to memorials that moved when pressure was applied being secured with posts and tape if they were deemed unsafe. More than 350 are still temporarily stabilised but after new Government guidance was released, the council is preparing to carry out the tests again.

This time, however, the council says the testing will be completed by a "visual inspection" after the previous method caused uproar among mourners. This involves officials inspecting the headstones without applying any physical pressure.

Councillor Joan Williams, deputy leader for environmental services, said today: "The council has now reviewed its policy on memorial safety testing procedures at St Benedict Biscop Church, in line with new guidance issued by the Ministry of Justice, earlier in the year.

"Shortly the council will be complying with the new guidance and, where appropriate, the temporary stabilising measures would be removed."

Council chiefs say those still deemed unsafe will remain stabilised.

A total of 463 stones failed the safety tests completed in 2007. Back then more than 1,000 relatives of people buried at St Benedict Biscop churchyard demanded the topple tests be stopped.

Families feared the 35kg (77lb) pressure used in the method was too strong, but the council was later cleared of any wrongdoing in a report by the Diocese of Lichfield.

Of those which failed the test in 2007, 104 have been repaired, leaving a total of 359 still being temporarily stabilised.

Council chiefs say the re-testing is due to start "shortly" and they will try to contact the next of kin to inform those affected by the new testing programme.

The tests have been carried out at a number of cemeteries across the region including at Bilston, where headstones were checked using a hand-held device to see how much pressure they can withstand.

Those that toppled under 25kg (55lb) of pressure were held up with a metal stake.