Cremation cost is set to increase

CREMATION charges in Plymouth are going up by 10 per cent to cope with rising costs.

The City Council is to raise the fees at Weston Mill and Efford from £450 to £495 in the next financial year.

Hiring the chapel for a 30-minute service will also be more expensive, with the price rising from £36 to £50.

Cllr Michael Leaves, the council’s Cabinet member for streetscene and environmental regulation, has authorised the change.

He said the council had to maintain the highest standards for bereaved families.

“Obviously we have ongoing costs and we want to maintain high standards. We also have new environmental regulations to meet in the next couple of years.

“There is quite a lot of investment which goes into our crematoria.”

He pointed out that holders of Plymcards still get a 10 per cent discount.

Council papers point out that cremation fees are still among the lowest in Devon and Cornwall.

Bereaved families are charged £575 in Exeter and £525 in Torbay.

The council said that this year its Bereavement Service had a much bigger budget than expected, thanks to big price rises for gas and electricity and increased maintenance costs.

Essential health and safety work is also needed in roads, pathways and headstones.

Council papers said the £36 fee for the chapel was a lot lower than that charged by churches for a service.

Families have as a result been using the council’s chapels and then going elsewhere for burials.

The council said it had considered a steep rise in chapel fees last year to bring them in line with churches. But it was instead decided to bring in more gradual increases.