The cost of dying is too high

Another day, another story on how we are having to fork out more money. It was ever thus!

Yesterday we revealed how Sunderland City Council was putting up parking charges by 10p an hour, today it’s funeral costs that are on the rise.

According to data compiled by the funeral comparison service Funeralbooker, cremation and funeral costs in Sunderland are on the up.

Cremations have risen by a hefty 13% in the last year.

Burial costs have also gone up 5.8% in the same period.

And we are not talking small sums here.

The cost of a cremation in Sunderland is now £740 with a burial setting you back £1,710.

To be fair to Sunderland’s head of place management, Mark Speed, has come out and explained, as far as he can, why the rises are necessary.

He said: “The fees charged for burial and cremation also cover the cost associated with the management of ten cemeteries in the city, including grave digging and ground maintenance as well as investment in cemetery infrastructure such as footpaths, access roads and perimeter walls.

“In addition, investment is made into maintaining and safeguarding the future provision of crematoria facilities for the city as well as ensuring stringent air emission requirements are met by the crematorium.”

What will rankle with residents is knowing in areas not a million miles away (South Tyneside and Hartlepool) the costs have either remained the same or not risen as steeply.

Is it better management or economies of scale that are at work here?

Either way, the cost of dying in our community is not cheap ... or welcome.