Council robbing the dead claim

WARRINGTON Borough Council has been accused of “robbing the dead” over price rises of almost 50 per cent at its cemeteries.
Angry residents – backed by the Labour opposition group on the council – say it is disgraceful the authority has “sneaked in” such big increases.
The cost of burial has increased from £499 to £720 while to purchase a grave has gone up from £599 to £867 – in both cases an inflation busting increase of nearly 50 per cent.
Marion Kent, of Lindley Avenue, Latchford, said: “It’s like robbing the dead – there is no excuse to put the price of any service up that much.
“As a widow I know it’s important to have a place to go and remember someone and I think the council is exploiting that.
“Folks will have to start being buried in the back garden because they won’t be able to afford these graveyard prices.”
Labour opposition councillors say the increase was “sneaked in” by the Lib Dem-Conservative ruling coalition at a meeting last September, with the charges coming into force the following month.
But they claim residents were never made aware of the rises.
Annie Brookhouse, age 75, of Westy Lane, Latchford, said: “You don’t expect to be treated this way when you’re bereaved and vulnerable.
“I’ve lived in Warrington for 50 years; I’ve brought my family up here, worked hard all my life and always paid my way. For the council to sneak in these increases is a disgrace.”
Labour leader Coun Terry O’Neill (pictured) said: “This is a death tax levied on the people of Warrington by an uncaring council.
“Benjamin Franklin said that only two things in this world are certain, death and taxes. It’s taken Warrington’s Lib Dem-Tory council to prove it.”
Council leader Ian Marks said: “I am surprised and disappointed that Labour has chosen this sensitive subject to try and score political points.
They have been rather slow off the mark as this all happened months ago.
“We increase any charges reluctantly but in this case we found our charges were considerably lower than those of most comparable authorities. We also found that people using our crematorium service
were in effect subsidising those using our cemeteries.
“But I am really disappointed with Labour for trying to politicise this issue.”