A GRIEVING family was left shocked by the costs to dig up a burial plot that they already owned.

The Armitt family had purchased a plot at Basingstoke Cemetery, in Worting Road, following the death of Ian Armitt in 2001.

His father Royston Armitt had purchased the plot for his son and had bought the adjacent plot for his family so they could be buried next to Ian when they died.

Following the death of his son, Mr Armitt snr moved from the Basingstoke area, where he had lived for more than 40 years, to Hinkley to be nearer to other family members.

When Mr Armitt died in February this year, his family wanted to move him back to be buried with his son.

However, when the family were making arrangements for the burial, they were told they would be charged £1,500 to dig up a site the family already owned, because Mr Armitt had moved out of the area.

Clive Armitt, Mr Armitt’s other son, said: “We were expecting to have to pay around £700 which is standard for digging up a plot.

“When we were told it would be more than double I couldn’t believe it. When I asked the undertaker as to why, they said it was because dad no longer lived in the area.

“I couldn’t believe this was common practice for someone that lived in the area for so long and had only moved away for a few years.”

He added: “Is this normal practice for people who live outside the area?”

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, which sets the prices for burial charges, said this is standard policy for burial charges.

Interim head of environmental services at the borough council Tom Payne said: “The council heavily subsidises the cemetery service for those living in Basingstoke and Deane.

“If a resident moves away from the borough, there is a five-year period before the increased charge applies.

“The fee reflects not only the charge for the excavation of the grave space, but also the maintenance of it.”