REDDITCH Borough Council has put in place a number of measures to ensure friends and relatives can safely say goodbye to their loved ones.
The Bereavement Services Team has spaced out benches at the crematorium, for social distancing, and has reduced the cost of live-streaming ceremonies to £40.
Mourners are being urged to remain in their cars until the service is about to begin and will be asked to remove tissues and service sheets to minimise the risk to staff.
Hymn books have also been removed.
Council officers have looked to national advisory groups and faith-based organisations to determine how many mourners should be allowed at funeral services in the crematorium chapel and at grave sides.
They will be issuing guidance to funeral directors shortly.
Bereavement services manager Mike Birkenshaw said: “While this is an emotive subject – we hope it reassures vulnerable friends and relatives that they won’t be at risk if they attend funeral services and ceremonies.”
These new measures could be updated at short notice as government guidelines are subject to change.
Visit http://www.redditchbc.gov.uk/coronavirus for more details.
