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The Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Wolverhampton cemetery's extra fee for wider graves criticised as ‘fat tax'
Residents of Wolverhampton have criticised plans for what is being called a 'fat tax' on burial plots after a city cemetery imposed a premium on wider graves. Danescourt cemetery in Tettenhall will charge an extra 20% to families whose loved ones need a 6ft-wide plot, as opposed to a standard 5ft grave. Wolverhampton council said the price premium was in response to an increase in obesity levels in the city, where a third of people are obese, compared with the national average of just over a quarter. The council said it had contacted 25 funeral directors before introducing the measure, with only one of them posing an objection. The funeral director Ross Hickton told the BBC the charge was a 'fat tax' and that it was 'not really acceptable or fair'. He said: 'You know people have paid into the system their entire life, paid their council tax to Wolverhampton council, and for them to be told [the grave is] 20% more because of the size of their loved one, it's not really acceptable or fair.' Matthew Crawley, the chief executive at the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management, said the charge seemed reasonable. 'You have a finite amount of space to work with; therefore if you need to eat into a grave next door, say, then that needs to be accounted for,' he said. 'You also have to account for the idea that digging the grave itself will also need extra equipment to keep it safe.' The costs, the council said, reflected 'the increased costs incurred in providing [wider graves], including disposing of the additional soil'. 'Many other local councils, including Birmingham and Walsall, charge higher fees for larger graves,' it said. Across the UK, the picture is mixed. A survey by the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors of its members found a quarter of local authorities charged extra for wider burial plots. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion There was also a concern in Wolverhampton for couples who wanted to be buried together, but where one was already buried in a standard plot while the other needed to be buried in a larger grave. At Danescourt, the council said, 'while space allows, [families] will still be able to choose to place larger coffins at the end of existing rows' at no extra cost'. But otherwise, the council told a funeral director in an email seen by the BBC, the family would 'have to consider burying the bariatric partner elsewhere, purchasing a second grave or exhuming the first partner to ensure they can be buried together'.
BBC News
24-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Grieving families face death certificate delays 'for weeks'
Some grieving families in the south-west of England are having to wait several weeks to get a death certificate after a loved one has died. The delay has been blamed on a new system for registering deaths which means doctors can no longer issue certificates independently. The National Association of Funeral Directors said it could result in considerable delays of up to four weeks or more. The government said it understood that such circumstances was "incredibly difficult time for any family", and the certification process was being enhanced to "enhance patient safety and offer clarity to grieving families". The new process was introduced across England and Wales last September, partly in response the Harold Shipman murders. It now requires a medical examiner to review each cause of death certificate completed by a doctor, and contact relatives to see if they have any questions or concerns before it is signed managing director of funeral directors Walter C Parson, John Ware, told the BBC: "I would say four, five years ago we would be advising families it would take seven to 10 for a funeral to be arranged from the point of death. "We're probably looking at between three to four weeks on average, I would say. "It has big implications for the bereaved family. Obviously closure is important for them and the funeral is a big part of the grieving process. "Delaying that by any longer than it needs to be is becoming a big problem for families. "We had a case recently where it was just over six weeks since somebody passed away, and my colleagues have been chasing up the coroner's office and the medical examiner to try and get the relevant paperwork that we need for that funeral to take place." 'Open communication' While Devon is still experiencing delays, the situation has improved in Cornwall where deaths can be registered at any register office in the county. In Devon, deaths have to be registered at the office in the area they occurred; Plymouth, Torbay or Exeter, for example. The president of the Association of Funeral Directors in Cornwall, Ayesha Slader, said: "We're very lucky. We've got an open communication with the medical examiners. If we have any issues, we can call them and make sure we have things in place. "If you have somewhere where the population is quite high and you've got a higher death rate, actually having more than one registration office for that area would be helpful, and I think that would really work to ease the pressures of the delays we're seeing." In a statement, the Department of Health and Social Care said: "We understand that dealing with the death of a loved one is an incredibly difficult time for any family. That's why we've improved the death certification process to enhance patient safety and offer clarity to grieving families. "The government expects deaths to be registered quickly and efficiently, and we're working with the NHS, faith groups, and the funeral sector to drive improvements and reduce delays where they exist."John Ware said: "I think it's important to reassure people that they don't have to wait for the death certificate to be issued before they can start making funeral arrangements."We would really encourage people to make contact with their chosen funeral director as soon as possible after someone has passed away so that they can start planning."
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UK Funeral Plan Market Analysis Report 2025: Gain Insights from 1,500 Adults and 378 Funeral Directors
Discover insights from an independent review of the UK funeral plan market post-FCA regulation. The report examines evolving trends in direct cremation and traditional plans, assessing the performance of funeral directors and firms. Gain insights from 1,500 adults and 378 funeral directors and explore areas for improvement, regulatory concerns, and more. Ideal for industry stakeholders, the 70-page report is available as a digital PDF. Dublin, June 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Funeral Plan Market 2025 - Sales recovery, direct cremation ascendancy, overtaking Over 50s and the funeral director challenge" has been added to offering. This in-depth report is tailored for a varied audience that includes funeral plan firms, funeral directors, thought leaders, and consultancy firms engaged within the funeral plan sector. It holds particular relevance for new market entrants or any entity seeking to deepen their understanding of the current market environment. The report is available in a digitally designed PDF spanning approximately 70 pages and includes a range of charts and visual data representations to support its findings. An independent review of the UK funeral plan market offers valuable insights into how the sector is evolving following the introduction of FCA regulation. This comprehensive report presents an analysis of the ongoing shifts experienced by funeral directors and funeral plan providers as they navigate the new regulatory landscape. The focus includes a detailed look at how both direct cremation and traditional funeral plans have transformed, highlighting improvements recorded over the last 12 months. The study identifies the prevailing trends that are influencing the future trajectory of the funeral plan industry, with particular emphasis on sales dynamics. Detailed research conducted among 378 independent UK funeral directors uncovers their perspectives on regulation and the sales of funeral plans, providing a lens into the real-world implications of regulatory changes on the ground. In addition, the report delves into the views and attitudes of 1,500 UK adults, shedding light on the motivations behind purchasing funeral plans, their feelings about funeral preferences, and the processes they undertake to select and purchase a plan. It further examines whom these individuals trust to deliver the services as expected. Key areas of concern are identified, particularly where customer outcomes could be enhanced. The analysis places special emphasis on the value and associated fees of long-term payment options, providing actionable insights for firms looking to optimize their offerings. Moreover, the report calls attention to aspects where FCA oversight is advised, notably regarding Over 50s life insurance plans under the Pure Protection review. A significant highlight of the report is its scrutiny of the 'average funeral costs' concept, addressing its potentially misleading nature. It also provides an evaluative review of the current funeral plan propositions from national firms, culminating in a rating system that identifies those offering the safest and most valuable plans in the market's leading categories. Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction and Executive Summary 2. Methodology 3. Funeral Plan Market Structure 4. Funeral Plan Market Size and Trends Impacting Future Growth 5. Funeral Plan Regulation - How the Sector is Settling Down and Evolving 6. Funeral Plan Pricing 7. Funeral Plan Propositions 8. Product Features in Focus 9. How Consumers Feel About Funeral Plans - Ownership, Drivers and Purchase Behaviour 10. How Future Purchasers Will Go About Buying a Funeral Plan 11. Over 50 Plan Market Regulatory Scrutiny: Issues FCA Should Be Considering 12. How 'average' Funeral Costs Continue to Mislead Consumers 13. Top Rated Funeral Plan Providers - 2025 14. Summary Conclusions 15. Guidance for Consumers Buying Funeral Plans For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
