BEREAVED Blackpool parents should not have to pay for the cremation of their stillborn babies according to a councillor.

Cllr Simon Blackburn is calling on Blackpool Council to scrap charges of up to £28 for the cremation of a child who died before the age of one month.

"These charges have been in place for many years," said Bloomfield Ward representative Cllr Blackburn: "And, in fairness to the Council, have not risen for some time.

"However, having read the annual review of fees and charges I noticed that there is a fee of £12 payable for the cremation of a foetus of more than 26 weeks and a fee of £28 for the cremation of a child either stillborn, or under one month old at the time of death.

"My partner suffered the enormous heartache of miscarriage some time ago - and we now consider ourselves fortunate to be the parents of two thriving healthy children.

"Only yesterday I spoke to a close friend and discovered for the first time that he and his wife had also suffered the tragedy of stillbirth.

"Although the council does have a duty to make its burial and cremation services as efficient as possible for the local Council Tax payer, I do feel that given the small sums of money involved - contrasted against the emotional trauma that might be caused by issuing a bill in such difficult circumstances - we must set aside financial concerns and concentrate instead on the human aspect of the situation."

Under the council's 'call-in' procedure the charges are to be debated by the council's Service Development Management Committee, which must meet within five working days to consider the issued.

Cllr Blackburn has also encouraged urban environment portfolio holder, Cllr Fred Jackson, to reconsider his decision to accept the charges.