The cost of burials in Tendring is set to go up by more than 15 per cent.
The increase, from £298 to £347 for new graves for adults, will apply to cemetery sites at Clacton, Kirby Cross and Dovercourt, which are run by the district council.
The hike in charges, to be brought in in April, was criticised by Frank Baker (Lab, Rush Green).
He said he was concerned about the large increases especially considering the state of part of the cemetery site in Clacton.
"It seems to me that one of the ways in which this council is trying to save money is to increase the charges which people have to pay to bury their family members," he said.
Mr Baker said that some of the facilities at the cemetery in Burrs Road, Clacton, were in need of repair and that should be done before people were asked to pay more.
"The roadway around the old part of the site near the chapel is full of potholes and the shelter is virtually falling down, with no glass in the windows," he added.
"The gardens are very well-kept but I will be asking for these other issues to be looked at as a matter of urgency."
The increase in burial fees is expected to bring the council in an extra £34,650 during 2003/04.
He added: "In my view, it is nothing more than a stealth tax. It is the wrong way of going about it."
Published Thursday, January 9, 2003
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