Council denies damaging gravestones in inspection

About 70 graves have been marked "unsafe"

A council has denied claims from residents that it damaged gravestones during an inspection at a churchyard in Nottinghamshire.

About 70 gravestones at St Helen's Church, in Trowell, were marked with yellow signs, declaring them "unsafe", in the inspection by Broxtowe Borough Council on 7 November.

Several families have since said they believe their loved ones' graves were damaged in the process.

The council said it was responsible for testing graves in the closed section of the churchyard, but had also tested the working cemetery "in error". However, it denied causing any damage in the process.

Robert Abrahall believes his five-year-old daughter's headstone was tampered with by the council

The graves were inspected as the authority is contracted to look after the closed section.

The other part of the graveyard is owned by the church.

Robert Abrahall's five-year-old daughter Teresa is buried at the site and has a headstone, which has been marked "unsafe".

The 78-year-old described the ordeal as "disgusting".

He said: "This is a sentimental place for me. It is my daughter's grave... I was in tears when I saw the sign."

Repairs to make the headstone safe, he says, are costing him £380, a cost he believes should be paid for by the council.

"How do I afford this on my pension? My ex-wife is having to help me with the costs," he said.

"What about the people with nobody to look after them? If there's no family member to repair them, what happens to their headstones?"

Nigel Horridge says the gravestone with his parents' names on was secure before the inspection

Nigel Horridge, 63, says he found his parents' headstone, which was also marked as unsafe, "dislodged and damaged" when he recently went to visit it.

He added: "It has been robust since I left [my parents] to rest - I check it regularly."

His brother, Ian Horridge, added: "How can it have been rock solid six weeks ago, but now it rocks with one finger?"

Conservative councillor Don Pringle, from Broxtowe Borough Council, confirmed just under a dozen residents had complained to him, and promised to raise the issue at the next council meeting.

'Hand push test'

A council spokesperson added: "Due to many factors, memorials deteriorate over time and can potentially become a risk to those who visit and work within the cemetery.

"Although a memorial may visually appear to be stable, on inspection, the internal fixing system can be corroded deeming the memorial unsafe."

The authority said its inspection "identified a number of unsafe memorials", and stressed its tests were visual, followed by a "gentle hand push test", done to "identify any movement between components".

"The council does not agree that damage was caused through the testing process," the spokesperson said. "The responsibility of the repairs lies with the memorial owner."

St Helen's Church has been approached for comment.