I AM pleased to see that Councillor Cottam has finally decided to provide some figures for us all to see regarding H&S testing of gravestones in our cemeteries.

I presume that they are correct although, after all the evidence of gross inefficiency Blackburn with Darwen Council has provided us with, I am not sure that I should.

Using the figures provided and acknowledging the fact that there is still Darwen Eastern Cemetery to be "done" I have drawn the following conclusions.

A) That the testing of all memories so far will amount to approximately £310,000 which equates with £5.50 for each of the 59,000 households registered to pay Council Tax.

B) To have repaired the 19 per cent of gravestones that failed the test, assuming an average of £150 each, would have cost £12.40 or less per household.

That figure might even be less because stone masons have repaired some free of charge.

I therefore come to the conclusion that less than £18 per council tax payer would have seen our cemeteries left as they should be, tidy and respectable. As matters stand they are an absolute disgrace and will be even worse in six months time when unclaimed headstones are laid flat.

I congratulate other local councils who had the forethought to see the larger picture and paid for the repairs as they were necessary.

Chief executive Graham Burgess, Councillor Cottam and all responsible for regeneration (another word for ruin) should hang their heads in shame. The blame for the shambles is down to you.

It is not too late, councillors, to change your policy. Reinstate all failed headstones free of charge and reimburse those who have already had work done. Do the honourable thing for a change and return our cemeteries to a respectable state.

EILEEN EASTHAM, Darwen.