Guest happy? Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 The photos I posted were not of ancient gravestones were they? They look comparatively recent and no doubt, the relatives of those people are still alive. Hardly the most sensitive way to deal with the problem is it? The stones stand on the ground. The ground settles - particularly when the coffin collapses after a few years. The stone becomes unstable. Not rocket science. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNACR Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Why would we do that ? We did have one of the old trees in the churchyard crowned after it dropped a f'off big branch onto the road and it transpired that the crown was rotten, but again not a decision taken lightly. In our case it was a local community trying to do the right thing and maintain the place of rest of their families. Not sure why that elicits such aggression. This rearranges to: 'the right thing to do' - a familiar sounding mantra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomwatkins Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 What's the betting the next thing is gravestone clamping? You will have to pay 200 quid to get it back from a knackers yard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fool's Gold Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 UK Debt Slave The council go around giving them the tilt test, then push them over if the wobble. Cretins. gives someone a job though doesn't it. Which means your council tax get inflated to pay for pointless jobs I suppose. Still all in the spirit of job creation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goat Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 The stones stand on the ground. The ground settles - particularly when the coffin collapses after a few years. The stone becomes unstable. Not rocket science. I'm sure you're right, they were all very dangerous and there's no financial incentive at all. After careful research John Mann learnt that the contractors are paid per gravestone they stake and that memorial masons had a new found opportunity to make money. In February last year John trained to become a topple tester and was able to prove that the vast majority of staked gravestones were safe and did not require staking. Indeed the topple testing process itself had caused damage to a significant number of gravestones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest happy? Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 I'm sure you're right, they were all very dangerous and there's no financial incentive at all. Certainly wasn't in the area I live in. So basically what you're advocating is that I should subsidise someone else's gravestone. If you want a gravestone in a municipal cemetery you pay for the plot, you pay for its upkeep, and please stop your contrived whining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goat Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 So basically what you're advocating is that I should subsidise someone else's gravestone. If you want a gravestone in a municipal cemetery you pay for the plot, you pay for its upkeep, and please stop your contrived whining. What I'm advocating is that perfectly safe memorials shouldn't be pushed over en masse for either financial gain or spurious safety reasons as appears to be the case here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest happy? Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 What I'm advocating is that perfectly safe memorials shouldn't be pushed over en masse for either financial gain or spurious safety reasons as appears to be the case here. No, your not. You're attempting to justify me subsidising your religion/burial practice - and if it falls on someone else's head so be it. Enough free handouts. Your funeral not mine. I'm not paying for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goat Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 No, your not. You're attempting to justify me subsidising your religion/burial practice - and if it falls on someone else's head so be it. Enough free handouts. Your funeral not mine. I'm not paying for you. What utter nonsense. The thread is about a council official knocking over dozens gravestones, what I'm saying is he shouldn't do this unless absolutely necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juvenal Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 (edited) I am currently developing a lightweight, hollow flourescent plastic gravestone, along the lines of a traffic cone. It will be brightly lit from within at night, to alert distracted insomniac walkers, drunken homegoers, and nocturnal mourners. Lucrative advertising space may be available on it. 'Arthur Sibley 1980-2009' on one side; 'Have it Large at Images on the Bypass' on the reverse. If toppled in high winds, it will emit a loud blaring noise and the shouted name of the deceased (rather like a car alarm) to identify it quickly to the council's nightshift gravestone team. I think I'm on a winner here. Edited November 19, 2009 by juvenal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest happy? Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 What utter nonsense. The thread is about a council official knocking over dozens gravestones, what I'm saying is he shouldn't do this unless absolutely necessary. It was work done by a private contractor who had followed rational and reasonable guidelines, assessed the stones as unsafe (and therefore a risk to others with the legal liability this implies to council taxpayers) and who had made them safe after the owners of the graves had failed to properly maintain them. If you want a memorial in a public cemetery - fine pay for it. But enough of this nanny-state nonsense. If I'm expected to subsidise you even in death where do we draw the line? I can't be expected to pay for everything you do - stop pretending you're not picking my pocket. Personally, I'm quite happy to be cremated. I don't want to be a burden on the taxpayer after I'm dead and can see no good reason why others should expect me to pay for their beliefs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goat Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 It was work done by a private contractor who had followed rational and reasonable guidelines, assessed the stones as unsafe (and therefore a risk to others with the legal liability this implies to council taxpayers) and who had made them safe after the owners of the graves had failed to properly maintain them. Without having had the chance to carry out the inspection ourselves we're not really in a position to judge their safety. That said the fact that dozens of relatively recent memorials were judged to be unsafe IMO points towards either: Very dodgy original workmanship. Spurious health and safety reasons. Financial incentives. Maybe I'm wrong, but we've seen that 3 seems to be common practice elsewhere in this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest happy? Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Without having had the chance to carry out the inspection ourselves we're not really in a position to judge their safety. That said the fact that dozens of relatively recent memorials were judged to be unsafe IMO points towards either: Very dodgy original workmanship. Spurious health and safety reasons. Financial incentives. Maybe I'm wrong, but we've seen that 3 seems to be common practice elsewhere in this thread. People who buy gravestones in municipal or private cemeteries must expect to pay for their upkeep - not expect a state handout. The council tax is high enough as it is without yet another unnecessary burden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goat Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 (edited) People who buy gravestones in municipal or private cemeteries must expect to pay for their upkeep - not expect a state handout. The council tax is high enough as it is without yet another unnecessary burden. Again: THIS IS NOTHING TO DO WITH UPKEEP OR SUBSIDIES. The gravestones were almost certainly in a perfectly safe condition but were pushed over so that the contractor could collect his fee (paid in the first instance by the council). Edited November 19, 2009 by Sadim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest happy? Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Again: THIS IS NOTHING TO DO WITH UPKEEP OR SUBSIDIES. The gravestones were almost certainly in a perfectly safe condition but were pushed over so that the contractor could collect his fee (paid in the first instance by the council). I think you're really trying to defend the indefensible - so this'll be my last post on the topic. We don't live in a nanny-state and I find your insistence that you should pick my pocket for your funeral quite bizarre. It's time to roll-back the creeping socialist state you're so fond of. Time to stand on your own two feet on this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tricksters Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 [quote name='Mal Volio' date='19 November 2009 - 12:14 PM' timestamp='1258632877' post='2252539' What usually happens is that any stones that are in danger of falling are carefully laid down......................... It's as well that they are so carefully laid down. You could put somebody's eye out with those gravestones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tricksters Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Not many, but it happens. More often the stone falls of its own accord. I used to be parish councillor, and sadly we had to do just this with a few grave stones. People don't realise that in many graveyards the deal is that the plot should be maintained by the family. Obv after many decades that stops happening and whoever runs the graveyard takes over by default. What usually happens is that any stones that are in danger of falling are carefully laid down......... It's as well they are carefully laid down. Those gravestones could put somebody's eye out. (Screwed up last post - serves me right for being a facetious, sarky ass) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goat Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 I think you're really trying to defend the indefensible - so this'll be my last post on the topic. We don't live in a nanny-state and I find your insistence that you should pick my pocket for your funeral quite bizarre. It's time to roll-back the creeping socialist state you're so fond of. Time to stand on your own two feet on this one. WTF? Are you really that stupid or are you just trying to wind me up? For the last time I'm not asking for subsidies, socialism or anything else. All I want is for people not to vandalise other peoples graves for no good reason. Not too much to ask is it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNACR Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 No, your not. You're attempting to justify me subsidising your religion/burial practice - and if it falls on someone else's head so be it. Enough free handouts. Your funeral not mine. I'm not paying for you. If I don't use state schools or hospitals are you ok with me not subsidising those? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hev Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 I am currently developing a lightweight, hollow flourescent plastic gravestone, along the lines of a traffic cone. It will be brightly lit from within at night, to alert distracted insomniac walkers, drunken homegoers, and nocturnal mourners. Lucrative advertising space may be available on it. 'Arthur Sibley 1980-2009' on one side; 'Have it Large at Images on the Bypass' on the reverse. If toppled in high winds, it will emit a loud blaring noise and the shouted name of the deceased (rather like a car alarm) to identify it quickly to the council's nightshift gravestone team. I think I'm on a winner here. I think poundland have beaten you to it, along with with the very fitting and dignified windmills and mobiles. Those battery operated birthday cards could be used to alert you to subsidence whithin the plot. All in the best possible taste and cheap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juvenal Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 I think poundland have beaten you to it, along with with the very fitting and dignified windmills and mobiles. Those battery operated birthday cards could be used to alert you to subsidence whithin the plot. All in the best possible taste and cheap! Thanks. I'm off to Poundland to get my memorial needs sorted. I'll take my wife in case there's any BOGOF deals going... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gardener Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 There's a fairly simple solution to all this nonsense. Why not have gravestones installed horizontally in the first place? No chance of failing the topple test then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethel Posted November 20, 2009 Share Posted November 20, 2009 I am currently developing a lightweight, hollow flourescent plastic gravestone, along the lines of a traffic cone. It will be brightly lit from within at night, to alert distracted insomniac walkers, drunken homegoers, and nocturnal mourners. Lucrative advertising space may be available on it. 'Arthur Sibley 1980-2009' on one side; 'Have it Large at Images on the Bypass' on the reverse. If toppled in high winds, it will emit a loud blaring noise and the shouted name of the deceased (rather like a car alarm) to identify it quickly to the council's nightshift gravestone team. I think I'm on a winner here. I think poundland have beaten you to it, along with with the very fitting and dignified windmills and mobiles. Those battery operated birthday cards could be used to alert you to subsidence whithin the plot. All in the best possible taste and cheap! Thanks. I'm off to Poundland to get my memorial needs sorted. I'll take my wife in case there's any BOGOF deals going... Oh happy days. It's times like these that remind me why I frequent this forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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