Memorial plaques taken away

More than half of all memorial plaques for loved ones at Gornal and Stourbridge crematoriums have been removed because families cannot afford to keep them there, it has been revealed.

Families currently have the option of paying a lump sum for a plaque to go up, either on the wall or underneath a memorial tree, at the crematorium for 10 years.

After that runs out, people have to fork out a renewal fee for the next 10 years.

But the Express & Star can reveal more than half of the plaques have been removed from the two sites because families cannot afford to keep them there.

In the last six months alone at Stourbridge, 70 plaques have been removed and only 30 renewed.

Now Dudley Council bosses are planning to slash fees after complaints from residents about the steep prices.

Dudley Council cabinet member Councillor Charles Fraser Macnamara said: "The lease renewal fee, payable after the expiry of the initial 10-year lease period for wall plaques and memorial trees at Gornal Wood and Stourbridge crematoriums, is considered excessive.

"This is resulting in over half of the plaques being removed after the lease expires.

"Bereavement Services have received many calls from families stating that they consider the renewal fees to be excessive and that although they would like plaques to remain, the cost is preventing this. Officers have estimated that since the scheme changed in 1996, at least half of the plaques and trees have not been renewed."

It currently costs £210 for a single slate or granite wall plaque for 10 years, with a 10-year renewal fee costing £168.

Council bosses are proposing to slash the renewal fee to £85 from January 15.

The renewal fee for double plaques is to be reduced from £337 to £120, while the renewal fee for a plaque under a memorial tree will go from £311 to £150.