CHARGES for the burial of children and infants at cemeteries in Torfaen have been removed with immediate effect by the council.

Previously the council waived the cost of burial rights on a child or infant grave, and charged a significantly reduced fee to cover the cost of the burial itself. According to the council’s cemetery fees, listed on their website, as in effect from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017, the cost of a burial for a child – stillborn or up to the age of 16 – is £131. The list does state however that the pricing is under review and could be subject to change.

Cllr John Cunningham, the council’s executive member for neighbourhood services, said: “We have always kept burial costs for infants and children as low as possible, and while removing them all together won’t make the loss of a child any easier, it is one less thing for families to worry about at an incredibly difficult time in their lives.”

The council operates and maintains four graveyards in Torfaen – Blaenavon, Cwmbran, Llwynceyln – near Hollybush in Cwmbran – and Panteg.

The cemeteries in Cwmbran and Panteg are deemed as closed cemeteries, in that no new burials can take place there, only additional burials in existing graves.

The leader-elect of Torfaen council, cllr Anthony Hunt, said: “This issue has long been discussed and was recently raised in parliament, giving us an opportunity to consider our own service.

“Fortunately infant mortality is exceptionally low, and while nothing can replace a lost child I am pleased that families in Torfaen who are going through this terrible experience will no longer have to worry about the cost of their child’s burial.”

Torfaen’s MP, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, welcomed the council’s “decisive action” on the issue and paid tribute to Carolyn Harris MP, who, “speaking from her own personal experience of losing a child, has been leading a courageous campaign in Parliament on this issue.”

“The grief of losing a child is unimaginable and families should not have to bear these funeral costs on top of everything else they are going through,” he said.

Torfaen AM, Lynne Neagle AM, added: “Carolyn Harris MP is leading a brave and heartfelt campaign in Parliament highlighting this issue and I very much welcome the response and action from Torfaen Council.