Botley residents are being forced to pay nearly £5,000 to be buried in their local cemetery- three times more than the usual fee.

Councillors have raised concerns that this is causing a significant amount of distress at an already upsetting time.

Botley Cemetery on North Hinksey Lane is operated by Oxford City Council, but Botley Parish is located in the Vale of White Horse.

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This means people living in Botley are classed as non-residents when being considered for a spot in the burial ground.

Oxford Mail:

An Oxford funeral director, who did not wish to be named, explained that Botley residents currently need to pay the non-resident fee of £4,490 to be buried in Botley cemetery.

This is considerably more than the £1,640 charge that applies to Oxford city residents.

He said that he regularly deals with grieving relatives who want to bury their loved ones in Botley Cemetery but are not able to do so due to the increased fees.

Councillor Debby Hallett who represents Botley and Sunningwell on the Vale of White Horse District Council said: “What it results in is that Botley residents approach to be buried in the cemetery and are shocked they have to pay triple fees.

“It is very upsetting, at a time that is already really sad.

“My idea is to get the cemetery back into the hands of the people it covers.

“It seems as if a mistake has been made and I would like it rectified.”

Botley and North Hinksey Parish Council has already approached Oxford City Council on the issue.

Chairman of the parish council, Lorna Berrett said: “We understand that the resident and non-resident fees are general policy, but we have asked if it can be adjusted.

“Burials are already a financial burden at a difficult time.”  

Oxford Mail:  She added: “We feel people have a connection to Botley Cemetery.

"It is our nearest non-church cemetery and the parish council organise the local remembrance service at the Commonwealth War Graves on the site.”

Rector of the Osney Benefice, Clare Sykes, explained that there is currently a pressure on burial places in the area.  

She said: “Space for the burial of bodies is at a premium and many churches are running out of room in their churchyards.

“Church of England law states that only people who live in the parish have a legal right to be buried there.”

Revd Sykes explained that the church was trying to help the shortage by creating places for the strewing of ashes such as at St Frideswide’s Church on the Botley Road.

Oxford City Council was approached for comment on the concerns raised to this newspaper.

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A council spokesman said: “Additional fee charging for non-residents being buried in Oxford’s cemeteries was introduced in April 1992.

“Additional fee charging is a common practice used by councils across the country to encourage council tax payers to use the services provided by their own local council and not those of other local authorities.

“Botley Cemetery is outside of the Oxford city boundary. The land is owned by Oxford City Council and is provided for the use of Oxford city residents. 

“Oxford City Council pays the Vale of White Horse District Council annual rates for the provision of services to the cemetery."