Has WMDC Authorised the Desecration of Local Graves by trying to make a few quid

Please excuse the word “I” about to be used as this far more about “us” as 2017 apparently will show in our graveyards. At the beginning of this year I was asked to assist with a council notice that had been attached to a gravestone. The correspondence that then followed was extensive and full of problems / issues. During this time it became apparent that many people were in the same situation and some had no money to pay for repairs. There are many internet discussions around but with such a delicate subject not many had the drive to ask questions.  I have underlined repairs as I will comment further in a moment.

In brief the circumstance is this. After a fatal accident a few years ago with a child being killed by a headstone a liability issue arose. The cost to make good by councils was so great that a get out had to be found to pass cost liability on. As most graves are a 99 year leased plot the get out was to blame the lease holder and create a test that would always create a fault. The test is to place a hand on a grave stone and apply 25 kg of force. Before you ask how this is measured. The answer is it that is not accompanied by much correspondence. After almost a year I have managed to witness a headstone test. The test is nothing to do with an amount of force. The test is to push over the headstone to prove it could be moved. The reason is to enforce the fitting of metal pins and straps. There are many other issues that you would probably now think about such as someone is actually going around grave yards and pushing over headstones that were perfectly fine and are now un-settled. It has now been almost a year since Featherstone’s Cemeteries were tested. 2017 looks like the year when our local graves have 50% plus of the headstones laid flat on the grass.

Solutions? There are not many unless you have a lot of money to fight, you are a solicitor willing to fight or for free if public opinion gets on board. There does appear to be a solution but when asked the reply was I cannot. The solution as I read is that graveyards are applicable to grants from councils and the lottery. Was my answer wrong?
Please pass this about in the hope someone who can help does!