Funeral directors warn of new ‘fat tax'
A survey by the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF) revealed that a quarter of funeral directors report their local authorities imposing extra fees for "bariatric burials", ranging from under £100 to more than £1,000 in some areas.
Ross Hickton, SAIF's national president, condemned these additional costs as discriminatory, arguing they unfairly burden families who have already paid taxes.
Wolverhampton Council had considered implementing a 20 per cent extra charge for larger burial plots but has since decided not to proceed with the plan.
Controversy also surrounds Wolverhampton Council's reported intention to create a separate section for larger graves at Danescourt Cemetery, which critics view as penalising and stigmatising.
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