WE have been following the issue concerning the memorial testing in cemeteries of the borough.

Like many other people, we too arrived at Pleasington to find our memorial banded and staked.

The notice attached made it clear that we were not to interfere with the failed headstone. It had to be repaired by a professional monument mason. We complied at considerable cost.

We now learn that the headstones still with band and stake are going to be repaired by the council ‘builder style’ with no cost to the grave-owner.

Is this decent and fair to the people like us who are now going to lose out?And does it not suggest discrimination? How many other councils have treated grave-owners this way?

A report (LT, June 4) detailed the massive gesture of Brent Stevenson Memorials and it was disheartening to read of the comments of Coun Alan Cottom.

According to him, officers are not happy giving carte blanche to one person to carry out all the work in one place. How many companies were used to test the whole of Pleasington cemetery? We understand it was just the one, Burial Ground Services. If we are right, the comments of Coun Cottam are somewhat farcical.

Why did the council let many people pay for there own repair and then decide to change policy as it suited? By anyone’s stand-ard this cannot be acceptable.

Should the people of the borough not be given the opportunity to comment on the offer of Brent Stevenson? Can the council not see that by accepting this offer, Pleasington will be restored to what it should be. What are they waiting for?

Is the £50,000 that has been put on one side for repairs the problem? We have the answer: the council should graciously accept the tremendous offer from Brent Stevenson, then reimburse all the people who did what was dictated and repaired at substantial cost.

KATH AND STAN FOULDS, Accrington Road, Blackburn.