Bury Independents call for a reduction in weekend Burial Costs

Friday, 17 January 2025 10:55

By David Murphy

Currently the burial charge in Bury for an Adult resident is £3,698, with additional charges of £343.13 if the burial takes place after 1pm on a Friday or £914.46 if the burial is to be scheduled on a weekend. The financial burden disproportionally affects families within the Muslim community where burial typically occurs as soon as possible and usually within 24 hours of death.

Timely burials hold significant religious importance for Muslim families. Currently the burial charge in Bury for an Adult resident is £3,698 and £4,430.60 for a non-Bury resident, with additional charges of £343.13 if the burial takes place after 1pm on a Friday or £914.46 if the burial is to be scheduled on a weekend. The financial burden disproportionally affects families within the Muslim community where burial typically occurs as soon as possible and usually within 24 hours of death.

Bury Council’s burial charges, in particular the weekend costs, are some of the highest in Greater Manchester and the disparity in fees compared to neighbouring councils feels excessive and places an unnecessary hardship on families within the Muslim community, particular during times of grief and vulnerability.

Bury Independents community campaigner Fawad Sabir raised this issue in the Bury Council chamber on Wednesday 15th January 2025 and asked the council to review the weekend burial charges to ensure they are fair and proportionate when compared with neighbouring towns. Fawad asked if the council would “engage with affected communities to better understand the cultural and religious significance of timely burials and to explore potential policy adjustments or support mechanisms to alleviate the financial burden on families.”

In reply to Mr Sabir’s question in the council chamber, the Labour Cabinet Member for Operations Councillor Quinn said that “the council would review the fees and charges as we prepare to set the budget for the coming year”.

Responding to the council’s reply, Fawad said “I’m worried that because of the tough financial situation Bury Council finds itself in, that when the council reviews burial fees in the next budget, as Councillor Quinn promised, those fees might increase even further. Its simply not fair and tantamount to indirect discrimination. Muslim families are often forced to bury their loved ones in other Greater Manchester towns due to the high burial costs in our borough, especially on a weekend.”