THE price of city cremations is set to rise with new Government pollution rules coming into force later this year.

The cost of individual services – roughly £500 on average – could increase by £50 because of a levy on mercury emissions produced by the combustion of mercury tooth fillings, and material used in joint replacements, among other things.

The issue came to light during Worcester City Council’s scrutiny of its ongoing review into the future of Astwood Road crematorium and cemetery.

It was also revealed the crematorium is the busiest for miles around with 2,201 services in 2010 – more than any of the other nearest 11 sites, and has 86,000 people visiting graves each year.

David Sutton, city council service manager, told councillors on Tuesday that a mercury emissions levy came in at the end of the year for councils who had not fitted pricey mercury filters to their crematoria.

Fitting such a filter – as councillors heard – would cost £1 million in Worcester’s case, and is just one option included as part of the wider review on what to do with the crematorium over the next few years.

Other approaches include sale, lease or spending money adding visitor services “like a coffee shop” said Mr Sutton.

Mr Sutton said the emissions rules “came in at the end of the year” and will add “a small charge on cremations” for councils who have not fitted the filters.

Councillor Roger Berry and Coun Liz Smith asked how much the charge would be per head and whether it was passed on to the user, with Mr Sutton confirming a charge of about £50 per head was being provided for in the council’s plans.

Meanwhile, Mr Sutton said changes rung at the site in the last 18 months – including a change of management team – had improved the service quoting public feedback there had been “real improvement”.

However, there are concerns over the “need to plan for future burial space”.

Mr Sutton said there was about 10 years worth of capacity for burials at Astwood cemetery – or “600 burial plots”.

Councillor David Tibbutt asked for more study on burial space at churchyards saying “if they run out of space for burials that will put further pressure on Astwood”.