More than 1,100 headstones have been dismantled and socketed into the ground in a controversial cemetery safety scheme in Dumfries and Galloway.
The work, which began in 2019, angered Sanquhar families who had not been informed in advance by the council.
And now a call has been made for the Scottish Government to intervene and put the memorial safety programme on hold.
Councillor Andrew Wood made the plea when he appeared before a Holyrood public petitions committee on Wednesday.
Mr Wood, who showed MSPs photos of damaged headstones, said: “I would ask for the restoration of all the work that’s been done to date because the council has clearly not followed the guidance set out by the Scottish Government.
“I would also ask for a halt on all work until the Scottish Government reviews the guidance.”
The Mid and Upper Nithsdale councillor filed a petition with the Holyrood committee last year after failing to get sufficient answers from the council over the scheme.
The row began when the authority hired contractors to make safe older headstones at 13 graveyards during 2019 and 2020.
Mr Wood, who described the work as an “absolute botch-up”, added: “Dumfries and Galloway Council has not followed the guidance set out clearly by the Scottish Government.”
The local authority has previously admitted that no permissions were sought from Historic Environment Scotland (HES) – despite work being done in listed cemeteries requiring special consent.
Nearly 200 headstones were dismantled at Sanquhar, which is a B-listed graveyard.
Penpont man David Drife was incensed by the treatment of family plots and told the Standard he had instructed his solicitor to take legal action against the authority for damage to headstones at Sanquhar.
Mr Wood said on Wednesday: “The council actually breached rules by going into a B-listed cemetery without having permission from their own planning department, and I find that totally unacceptable. They have caused anguish and anger to relatives and before they resume work in cemeteries across the region, I would like an independent auditor to make sure they uphold the guidance set out by the Scottish Government.
“Headstones should not be automatically socketed into the ground.
“There are several other methods that could have been applied.”
The council had approved the work to improve safety for cemetery visitors, which included removing some headstones deemed unsafe from their plinths.
They were then trenched into the ground and in some cases part of the inscriptions were buried.
Instead of properly informing relatives, small signs were placed at cemetery entrances, which resulted in emotional distress and sparked complaints about vandalism.
Mr Wood said: “This is very emotional for families in the region who have been affected.
“By damaging headstones in this way, we lose part of our heritage, history and culture.”
Last October, the council’s planning committee approved listed building consent for the work to continue at Sanquhar Cemetery.
The consent was partially retrospective – because nearly 200 of the headstones have already been dismantled and socketed into the ground between 2019 and 2020 without relatives being properly notified.
And, as a result of the controversy, new procedures are also being followed by the council, including discussions with lair holders – or funeral directors and stone masons – as well as ward councillors and community councils.
The Holyrood committee said it will consider the petition by Mr Wood at a future meeting.
