CEMETERY charges in Tavistock are being increased above the rate of inflation but still remain lower than those in Plymouth, Exeter and mid Devon, the town council has said.

Charges in the Plymouth Road Cemetery will rise by 5% from April 1, 2010 after members of the town council agreed the increase at their full meeting last week.

Tavistock town clerk Roger Howard said that several years ago, when undertaking a review of its services, the town council discovered that its cemetery charges were substantially lower than that of other cemeteries in the area.

The council decided at that time that a more appropriate way of bringing charges in line with others would be gradually to increase them by adding 5% each year instead of imposing an immediate large increase. This started in 2003.

He said: 'Each year the rate of increase is reviewed by the town council.

'Although it appears that the rate of increase is quite high, the Plymouth Road Cemetery charges still remain lower than those in the surrounding area.'

Interments at the Tavistock cemetery are £120 with exclusive rights of burial £325, in Plymouth the costs for interment/exclusive rights is £802/£2,055 (100years), in Exeter £540/£1,680 (50years) and in mid Devon £594/ £1,577 (75years).

Call the town council's cemetery office on 01822 612799 for current charges and 2010/2011 charges or visit  http://www.tavistock.gov.uk">www.tavistock.gov.uk