Carbon cost of cremation will be cut
COFFINS are set to be stored overnight so that cremators in the Harrogate area can cut carbon emissions.
Supporters of the scheme say the proposed measures, due to go before councillors yesterday, would help prevent costs escalating.
Rather than repeatedly firing up one of the two cremators at Stonefall Cemetery for a single casket, council chiefs hope to introduce measures to hold coffins in secure storage overnight.
Harrogate Borough Council decision--makers say such a measure would cut emissions and reduce costs; it is hoped the move would make significant savings for the council to help to counter the cuts in Government funding for the public sector.
It is thought that the council will be the first in the Yorkshire region to adopt the policy, which falls within national guidelines.
The council's head of bereavement services, Patrick Kilburn, stressed that coffins would only be stored overnight with the consent of the deceased's relatives.
He added: "We realise that this is a very sensitive issue and, of course, we will take on board the wishes of the family.
"I do want to stress that the majority of cremations will be carried out the same day. This new proposal would just mean that some would be carried out within 24 hours.
"But all local authorities are having to look at ways of cutting costs as well as minimising their impact on the environment.
"We have spoken to the Institute of Burial and Cremation Management who support this practice which is followed by a number of other local authorities with considerable benefits."
Harrogate Borough Council's cabinet member for public protection, Coun Les Ellington, said that the wishes of the deceased's family would be taken into account before any such decisions would be made.
He said: "We expect this to be on rare occasions, and only ever with the approval of the loved-one's family.
"If we do hold over the cremation until the next day, the cremations would be done in strict order of funerals.
"And if there are occasions when the family were perhaps leaving the area and wanted to take the ashes with them, we certainly would revert to the position of cremation taking place straight after the funeral."
Harrogate Borough Council oversees an average of 25 cremations every week, although there is traditionally an increase in numbers during the winter months and around the Christmas and New Year period.
The new policy, which is due to begin on October 4, is expected to be used mainly during the quietest periods in the spring and summer months.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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