Cemetery double-charge policy needs reviewing, says son

But this week Rother defended a policy which it says is common practicy by local authorities.

Adrian Eldridge, now of Cotterstock, near Peterborough, says: "My father, Stanley Eldridge, lived in Bexhill and Ninfield from childhood.

"For approximately 20 years after World War II he worked as a greenkeeper at the Bexhill Polegrove bowling greens, employed by Bexhil Town Council.

"He then went on to work as a nurse at the East Sussex County Council Haldane House care home for the elderly, again at Bexhill, until his retirement.

"Dad died tragically on January 27, 1978 as the result of injuries from an road traffic accident in Sidley on January 10, 1978. His 65th birthday on January 15 was spent in the intensive car ward at the Royal East Sussex Hospital at Hastings.

"My father was buried in Bexhill Cemetery on February 7, 1978. At that time I purchased the accompanying grave plot to enable my mother to be buried with dad in the fullness of time.

"My mother, Beryl Eldridge, lived in Ninfield and Bexhill for most of her 92 years, and only moved to sheltered accommodation close to my home in the East Midlands due to failing health when she was 80 years old.

"Dear mum passed away earlier this month and in accordance with her wishes she was laid to rest with dad (on St Valentine's Day) in Bexhill Cemetery.

"Had my mother resided in the Rother district until she died thee interment fee would have been 720.

"However, Rother District Council's policy is to double the fee for people resident outside the district!

"So, a family such as ours, who have contributed so much in East Sussex council taxes and employment goodwill for more than 45 years, are penalised and surcharged 720.

"Conversely, people moving, perhaps retiring to Bexhill, have only to pay Council Tax for a single year to be eligible for the flat standard fee.

"I have complained unsuccessfully to RDC. It is my opinion that the policy needs refinement to allow for exceptional circumstances as I believe these are.

"Incidentally, I lived in Burwash and also paid Council Tax to RDC for 21 years until I moved with employment to my current address."

Rother head of amenities Madeleine Gorman said: "The double charge is made for interments for people resident outside the Rother District.

"The application of double charges for people who do not live in an area is common practice across the UK including our surrounding East Sussex districts and boroughs and in the Peterborough area where Mr Eldridge lives.

"This policy deters people who are not paying Council Tax in one area benefiting from cheaper interment rates in another.

"To qualify for the standard fees you must be resident in an area at the time of death or within the last year.

"It has been more than ten years since Mrs Eldridge was resident in East Sussex and as Mr Eldridge (senior) was living in Wealden at the time of his death in 1978 double fees were also charged at that time.

"Council staff are not offered lower interment fees in return for any employment period."