Published Friday 27 March 2020 at 16:07
In response to the latest Government guidelines around Coronavirus, there have been changes to how residents can attend funerals, burials and cemeteries in Blackburn with Darwen.
All cemeteries are closed except for funerals.
The number of people allowed at a burial or cremation has also been restricted to 10 – including family members, any faith representatives and staff.
Councillor Jim Smith, Blackburn with Darwen’s Executive Member for Environment and Operations, said:
We are in the midst of the worst public health crisis for a generation.
The safety of our residents and staff is our absolute priority and we are reviewing all of our services daily to ensure we’re doing everything possible to protect them.
We are having to make incredibly difficult decisions – restricting the numbers able to attend burials and cremations being one them.
We know it will be upsetting for our bereaved families, but we are doing everything we can within the national guidelines and with the upmost sympathy.
We are also looking to introduce new equipment as quickly as we can to allow us to be able to webcast funerals so that more family and friends, including those self-isolating with symptoms, can be part of the send off for their loved ones.
The advice nationally is that funerals should only be attended by:
- Spouse/partner
- Parents/carers
- Siblings
- Children and their partners
Cllr Smith added:
We know these are anxious times for our residents and that these decisions will cause further upset, but we are living in unprecedented times and must do everything we can to follow the strict guidelines being put in place for our safety.
My thoughts are with those who will be affected by these decisions – including those who find comfort in regularly visiting the graves of family members, partners and friends.
We will continue to review the guidelines daily and will resume normal service as soon as it is safe to possibly do so.
In the meantime, the Government guidelines are clear – stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.
Extra cleaning is being undertaken at Pleasington Crematorium between each service.
The gates at the cemeteries will be closed and locked – opened only for funerals.
Anyone other than authorised funeral attendees to cemeteries will not be allowed access.
For the very latest advice, guidance and updates on council services affected by Coronavirus, please visit: www.theshuttle.org.uk/coronavirus