Man distraught as Leeds Council topples gravestones at Wortley Cemetery over 'risk to the public'

Steven Osborne regularly visits Wortley Cemetery to pay his respects to his grandmother, who worked in a munitions factory, and grandfather, who served in the forces.

But the 53-year-old said he was deeply upset to see gravestones laid down - around 50 in his estimation - on the ground and the Oldfield Lane graveyard looking "like a bombsite".

Steven, who now lives in Calverley, but grew up around Wortley, said he felt sad for the dead who were part of a community he knew and loved.

Among them is a World War Two pilot with a Distinguished Flying Cross medal and even a Victoria Cross recipient.

Steven said: "I was distraught - I felt sick. I go there for solace and to pay my respects.

"I was just appalled at what had been done - you have to ring a number with stickers attached, just like a parking fine, even in death."

The labels state the headstones have been deemed unsafe and ask families not to move them and to call the memorial masons team.

One of the gravestones was laid down over the foot of Steven's grandparents' grave, destroying flowers planted there, though the gravestone itself had not been touched.

Steven said he understood the council had legal obligations, and that writing to families first would be difficult, but felt they were taking "the cheapest option".

"The stones are not even two feet high - not exactly huge and dangerous," he added.

"What was the cost to push them over? Probably halfway to put them back up safe.

"If they're pushed over, who's going to come and put them back up? Some of these people's families will have died - they have not thought about the families."

Steven added: "It just looked like a bombsite. It was unkempt. I go to foreign cemeteries and they are kept beautifully.

"The level of respect for that generation is just disgusting."

Last year, a family spoke out against the practice of laying down headstones at Rothwell Cemetery, also run by Leeds City Council.

A Leeds city council spokeswoman said: “We do not wish to cause any upset to bereaved families, particularly at this difficult time.

“Nonetheless, the Council has a legal duty to act quickly where the condition of graves and headstones could present a risk to the public, and only those headstones that are at risk of toppling over will be laid down to ensure that our cemeteries are safe.

“Before any action is taken, notices are placed around the cemetery informing the public that memorial testing will be taking place.

"Grave owners who find their headstone laid down can employ the services of a registered memorial mason to have the memorial safely reinstated.”

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