Extra Burial Fee for ‘Larger Bodies’ in UK Sparks Public Outcry

A UK council faces backlash for charging extra burial fees for larger graves, sparking public outrage, accusations of discrimination, and calls for nationwide guidelines on funeral costs.

British media have reported that Wolverhampton City Council, in western England, is facing accusations of imposing an unusual fee, dubbed the “fat corpse tax.”

According to reports, the council charged bereaved families about $600 in addition to standard burial costs to provide graves 30 centimeters wider than the standard 60 centimeters for larger bodies.

The practice, first reported by the BBC on August 14, has sparked public outrage and fueled debates over discrimination and financial exploitation of grieving families.

Wolverhampton City Council has denied the allegations, rejecting claims that the charges are a scheme to generate extra revenue. A council spokesperson told The Guardian that cemetery space shortages across the UK, particularly in crowded cities, make larger plots more expensive due to extra excavation and space management costs.

However, critics argue that the measure amounts to financial exploitation of bereaved families. The UK’s National Association of Funeral Directors confirmed that similar charges are applied in other areas, including Birmingham and Manchester.

The controversy has intensified calls for greater transparency in burial fees and for local councils to review their practices to ensure fairness and avoid discriminatory implications.

Observers note that with the UK’s limited cemetery capacity, especially in urban areas, balancing cost recovery with compassion toward grieving families will remain a challenge for local authorities.

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