Council Removes Fees For Infant And Child Burials

Torfaen council has removed charges for the burial of infants and children at its cemeteries with immediate effect. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Previously the council has waived the cost of burial rights on a child or infant grave, and charged a significantly reduced fee to cover the cost of the burial itself. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor John Cunningham, executive member for neighbourhood services, said: “I know from personal experience how devastating losing a child can be for a family. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have always kept burial costs for infants and children as low as possible, and while removing them all together won’t make the loss of a child any easier, it is one less thing for families to worry about at an incredibly difficult time in their lives.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Anthony Hunt, Leader elect of Torfaen council, said: “This issue has long been discussed and was recently raised in parliament, giving us an opportunity to consider our own service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Fortunately infant mortality is exceptionally low, and while nothing can replace a lost child I am pleased that families in Torfaen who are going through this terrible experience will no longer have to worry about the cost of their child’s burial.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​