CAMPAIGNERS last night vowed to deliver a petition signed by more than 1,500 people to Caerphilly council’s headquarters and demand answers over its controversial new graves policy.

The bitter dispute over graves at Bedwellty Cemetery continued, as around 200 people attended a third public meeting at Markham Miners’ Welfare Hall.

Sandra Powell, of Cefn Fforest, handed a petition signed by 1,568 people against the council’s new policy of removing personal items from graves to local politicians including Blackwood Town Councillor Andrew Farina- Childs and County Councillor Tom Williams, who vowed to present it at today’s full Caerphilly council meeting.

Mrs Powell, who has four generations of family at the cemetery, including her son Lewis, 40, who died 18 months ago, said: “It’s our lives, our memories and our loved ones. There’s a lot of hurt and a lot of feelings in this.”

A first public meeting gave locals a chance to air their grievances with each other, while over 200 people gathered at Markham Miners’ Welfare Hall two weeks ago, expecting to discuss the matter with council officers.

Residents were once again angry at the absence of any council officers for a second meeting in a row. Islwyn AM Gwyn Price read a response from principal officer for bereavement services Mike Headington, which stated that all items that were removed were labelled and stored at the cemetery ready for collection.

The meeting was told that no officer had been sent as it was a personal issue for families, and council officers would meet with families on