Brother's fury at burial charge (From Barry And District News)

Brother's fury at burial charge

A BARRY pensioner is furious at being made to pay to bury the ashes of his sister in a grave he already owns.

Arthur Walker, 83, of Butt-Lee Court wants to put a small casket with the ashes of his sister, Iris Poulos into the family plot at Barry Cemetery.

But he has been told by Barry Town Council officials that he will have to pay £124 for the privilege because she spent her latter years just outside the town in Wenvoe.

Mrs Poulos, who was born and bred in the town and spent many years here before moving to America, is being penalised due to her choice of care home, according to her brother.

Mr Walker told the News: "When I was told there was a charge of £62 to bury a small casket, I didn't argue even though my grandfather bought the plot in 1918.

"But when the town council learned that Iris had been out of Barry for more than five years, I was informed the fee would double. I was furious."

Iris was born in Pyke Street in 1905, and lived in the town for 46 years. She visited America for six months in 1951, got married and stayed there for 41 years. Mr Walker visited very regularly and they had agreed that her final resting place would be Barry.

Iris eventually came home in 1993, when her health was failing.

Mr Walker explained: "She was to stay with me, but I knew within a few weeks I couldn't look after her as she had Alzheimer's Disease, so we placed her in a home in Wenvoe."

Ironically, if she had been cared for by Mr Walker or by carers in Barry, she would have been classed as a Barrian.

"Does this mean anyone needing care outside Barry will be penalised? That's not fair. And their families shouldn't be punished either," he said.

A spokesman for Barry Town Council said: "This is standard procedure throughout Britain. A non-resident of the town won't have made contributions to the council for the last five years. Therefore they are not entitled to the subsidised fee of £62.

"Special circumstances might be made if the person moved away because the care they need cannot be found in Barry. Otherwise, the fee is £124."