A ROW has broken out over the cost of dying in Burnley after it was revealed that fees in the town were so high that 99 per cent of the ethnic community chose to be buried in Blackburn.

The claim was made as councillors were told that interment fees at Burnley cemetery, already among the highest in the area, are set to soar by 25 per cent.

Councillors in Blackburn and Darwen were this week presented with a report saying cemeteries in the borough were filling up fast and only have a future of around 15 years.

The increases in fees, which form part of Burnley's budget proposals for the new council tax were attacked at last night's Burnley Council policy and resources committee.

All the increased tariffs and budget proposals are subject to approval at the full Burnley Council meeting on Wednesday, March 8.

But Lib-Dem leader Coun Gordon Birtwistle commented: "Burnley was always a very expensive place to die; now it is extortionate."

He said there was no relation between the big increase in burial charges and nominal increases for other services.

Coun Birtwistle said music and dancing entertainment licences were only going up by 2.5 per cent.

"While alive you can enjoy yourself but it costs a fortune to get buried," he remarked.

Labour Coun Rafique Malik said: "I intend to agree with Coun Birtwistle on this. People have complained to me about the cost of burial in Burnley, it is a most expensive place. "I think we have a duty to look seriously at our expenditure which takes us into the top league.

"It is a very sensitive issue. We are driving people away from our burials, 99 out of 100 (of the ethnic community) people are choosing to be buried in Blackburn. One of the main reasons is the cost."

Director of finance Nick Aves said it was a question of recovering costs incurred by the council. Two years ago the council was operating the service at a deficit and it was then decided to increase fees and charges over a number of years to recover the costs incurred.

Coun Tony Harrison said the fees could have increased by 50 per cent last year but for a compromise being made.

The new charges would bring Burnley into line with what other authorities were charging.

Council leader Stuart Caddy denied that Burnley was the highest charging authority.

The cost of the interment of an adult in Burnley is set to increase by 25 per cent from £356 to £445.

The cost of burying an adult in Blackburn and Darwen is £339. In Hyndburn the figure is £200.

A Blackburn with Darwen Council spokeswoman said she was unaware of a trend for Burnley people to be buried in Blackburn, but confirmed that Blackburn with Darwen Council does cater for burials on Sundays, which other areas of East Lancashire do not.

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