Torbay Council to review memorial bench charges following criticism

Torbay Council has agreed to review its memorial bench pricing policy following criticism that bereaved families are being charged excessive fees to remember loved ones.

The move comes after councillors described the current charges as “morally indefensible”, with some memorial benches costing up to £12,000 depending on their location.

Opposition councillors say the latest tariff is significantly higher than those charged by neighbouring councils and even exceeds the cost of memorial benches in Westminster, one of London’s most expensive boroughs.

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Under the current system, benches placed in prime locations such as Torquay seafront can cost up to £12,000, while those in less prominent areas, including Battery Gardens in Brixham, are priced at around £8,000.

Liberal Democrat councillor for St Marychurch, George Darling said some of the increases amounted to rises of up to 2,000%.

“These are places where families come together to remember those who are no longer with us,” he said. “We can’t defend this. It is making money out of residents’ grief, and people are extremely upset about it.”

He added that the council was charging more than the actual cost of installing and maintaining benches.

Conservative councillor for Churston with Galmpton Adam Billings, who developed the new pricing structure, defended the policy, saying comparisons with other South Devon councils or Westminster were not appropriate.

“The circumstances in the bay are very different,” he said, adding that he was “pleased and proud” to have introduced a policy that helped local people remember their loved ones.

He said there had previously been no clear structure for memorial benches and that the new system provided consistency. He also said the starting price for adding a plaque to an existing bench was lower than the council’s cheapest option 15 years ago, and that higher charges in popular locations reflected increased wear and tear.

Following a motion submitted by Liberal Democrat councillors, the council agreed to re-examine the policy. However, opposition members said a review alone would not be enough.

Councillor Swithin Long, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Torbay Council and proposer of the Fair Prices for Memorial Benches motion, said the issue would be referred to the council’s Overview and Scrutiny committee.

“This must lead to real change,” he said. “Memorial benches should be about remembrance and community, not about raising revenue from grieving families. At the moment, the policy risks placing an unbearable financial burden on people at an incredibly difficult time.”

Liberal Democrat councillors have said they will continue to press for a pricing system based on cost rather than income generation, arguing that memorial benches hold significant social, emotional and historical value for local communities.