KATHLEEN Cox’s letter on Tuesday reflects wider anxieties about Gwent Crematorium. Christmas/New Year Bank Holidays result in 3 three days of no services, causing further delays at a busy time of year.

It would not take a revolution to introduce Saturday services throughout December, January and February to ease this annual congestion. Gwent is one of the busiest crematoria in the UK, so a solution will soon have to be found.

What has been a shock is to learn that fees were increased, totally unjustifiably, by 8.5 per cent% from last April. That decision will result in £112,226 estimated additional income being generated.

£750,000 was distributed as a surplus between the 5 five Gwent local authorities last year.The projected surplus for 2014/15 is £551,254 !

Am I alone in finding these facts deeply offensive? Many people struggle to meet funeral costs, at a harrowing time. Has anyone been consulted by their local authority’s representative about this steep increase in fees, which is very largely to go as surplus back to your council?

Is profiteering and propping up local authorities’ finances the function of public crematoria?

All the figures have been taken from reports of the Crematorium Joint Committee.

John Hathaway Bettws Newydd Usk