CEMETERY fees in Bovey Tracey are set to rise by as much as ten per cent.

But the town council's finance, resources and general purposes committee is keen to lay to rest that it is not responsible and the blame lies with Teignbridge Council.

Since the town council took on the running of the cemetery from the district authority, it has received an annual burial grant from Teignbridge of more than £4,000.

The grant is currently £4,386, but it is disappearing in 2012-2013 and that has landed the town council with an income gap to fill.

At Monday's committee meeting councillors agreed they had no choice but to raise the cemetery fees and recommend a ten per cent increase to the full council. If the latter agrees at its meeting later this month, the rise will take affect from April 1.<

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