A COMPASSIONATE move by the Government has been embraced by private cemetery operator GreenAcres Group, which owns Heatherley Wood in Grayshott.

In April, Prime Minister Theresa May announced the costs of child burials and cremations would be waived in England.

The fees will be met by a new Children’s Funeral Fund to help parents struggling to pay for funerals for children aged under 18.

GreenAcres will extend its offering on free burials for babies at all its sites to include free single-depth graves up to the age of 18.

The company will waive the internment fee and any grave digging costs for both ashes and burials where applicable. It has also set-up a Child Funeral Benevolent Fund, which will go towards third-party suppliers or other associated funeral costs for families suffering financial hardship.

Chief executive officer Richard Gomersall, said: “We welcome the Government’s decision on child burials, in addition to free baby and child burials up to age of 18 we will also waive any associated digging fees as no parent should have to pay to bury their child.”

Council-owned Guildford Crematorium, near Godalming, which performs 1,800 cremations and and is undergoing a £10million redevelopment, has waived charges in line with Whitehall’s announcement

Building work started this month to provide a flexible and intimate chapel, suitable for both small and large services, able to accommodate up to 200 mourners.

It will offer views of landscaped courtyards and improved natural lighting to create a more peaceful, reflective environment.

A larger waiting room will be provided with an extended covered outdoor area, and a new memorial courtyard, book of remembrance room, flowers room and gardens of remembrance. Parking facilities will also be improved.

Contractors are already building a new car park and constructing interim facilities prior to demolition of the existing crematorium.

The improved facilities will be ready by autumn 2019.