Anger as the cost of dying in Clydesdale trebles

That is a question being asked as the ‘cost of dying’ in South Lanarkshire took another hike –the council’s charges for burials have almost TRIPLED in just five years.

The total cost of buying a lair and burial in a public cemetery in Clydesdale is now £1995; in 2010 it was only £684.

The total costs of using a council-run cemetery ‘over the border’ in North Lanarkshire is now £1,246, almost £750 less than here.

The soaring price rises over recent times have attracted heavy fire from both clergy and undertakers. Lanark Greyfriars minister the Rev Bryan Kerr has been scathing in his comments on the charges, claiming “they are causing even more stress for already distressed, bereaved families.”

Veteran Carstairs undertaker Ian Brown is also a long-time critic, commenting this week that he was seeing the financial problems being caused to the bereaved close up as “it’s me and not the council who have to present the bill to the families.”

He added that he thought the recent council decision to cut the Lanark Registry Office opening days from five to just two a week were just adding insult to injury.

He said: “On behalf of my clients, I regard changing the death registration service for the whole of Clydesdale run from Lanark from five days to just Mondays and Fridays unacceptable. That office dealt with the registration of 500 deaths last year and so you have to ask why this cut in opening days is taking place.

“It is hard enough for folk to lose a loved one, but this will cause a further, distressing delay in making funeral arrangements. And this on top of the rising costs!”

Explaing South Lanarkshire Council’s position, Stephen Kelly, Head of Facilities Waste & Ground Services, said: “The council has had to achieve significant levels of saving in recent years and that remains the case as it plans for 2015/16 and beyond.

“This has resulted in difficult choices having to be made and, as part of the council’s efficiency programme, has included the increase in internment charges which is comparable with other charges.

“Council investment in our cemeteries continues with the recent provision of a new cemetery at Springbank in Lanark, an extension at Philipshill in East Kilbride and further cemetery provision is planned for Larkhall, Wilton in Carluke, the Glebe in Stonehouse, Priestfield in Blantyre and Strathaven.”