Published Thursday 9 April 2020 at 16:28
Blackburn with Darwen Council has invested in new technology to allow funeral services to be streamed live from Pleasington Crematorium.
In line with government guidelines to protect the safety of all residents and staff during the coronavirus pandemic, the numbers allowed to attend funerals and burials in the borough has been reduced to just 10.
And with many residents self-isolating, the new equipment will allow them to watch the crematorium funeral service from home.
Councillor Jim Smith, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Member for the Environment said:
We know this is an incredibly difficult time for our residents – more so for those who have lost loved ones.
The restrictions are there to help keep us all safe, but we realise that means some people are having to miss the final send off for their nearest and dearest.
This webcasting technology means that they will have a secure link to watch the service being held at Pleasington Crematorium.
We know it can’t make up for them being there in person, but we do hope it will help bring at least some comfort.
All cemeteries in the borough have been closed to public access, with the access road at the Pleasington playing fields also being closed today (Friday, April 9) due to the amount of motorists still visiting.
The only permitted access through Pleasington playing fields from Tower Road will be for funerals, staff and contractors working for the Council.
Cllr Smith added:
Our cemetery and crematorium staff are working tirelessly in really difficult circumstances – often involved in preparations for the worst case scenarios that none of us even want to have to think about.
They are closely linking in with local funeral directors too to make sure they are kept updated and that our bereaved families have all the information they need.
Our grounds staff have also pulled out all the stops to keep the cemeteries looking their best while residents can’t visit with some being redeployed from other areas to offer extra support.
I hope our residents will join me in thanking them for their hard work and efforts.
The webcasting will be a free service throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Details will be made available through funeral directors.
Changes have also been made to how deaths are registered in the borough.
For the safety of residents and staff, all appointments are now been done by telephone – removing the need to visit the Town Hall.
You can read more on that here.
For full details on the changes to funerals, burials and cemeteries, please click here.
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