More rally to cause of grieving parents
ANOTHER council has backed the Sunday Mirror’s crusade to scrap child burial fees and ease the heartbreak for grieving parents.
Since we launched our campaign with the Labour Party last year, a number of councils have agreed to cancel the fees.
Now Oxford councillors have voted unanimously to get rid of the charges.
At a meeting this week, Councillor Mark Lygo revealed he had lost a child in 1999. He said: “My wife was nearly full-term, and it was very traumatic and stressful at the time.
“And one of the stresses for us was trying to find the money.
“Families are always going to grieve for a loved one and that will never go away, but it is one financial stress and worry which can.”
Fellow councillor Ruth Wilkinson said: “The loss of a loved one is always very sad, but the loss of a much longed-for baby or infant must be almost unbearable.” The Sunday Mirror is calling for an end to funeral costs for the 5,000 children who die every year. Along with Labour, we are asking the Government to cover the estimated £10million involved.
At the moment, it is up to individual councils whether they charge or waive the fee.
MP Carolyn Harris, who had to take out a loan for her son Martin’s burial in 1989, and has been leading the fight, said: “I’m touched by the compassion shown by Oxford councillors. ”