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ONE PAPER ... ALL THE NEWS from Dewsbury, Batley, Ossett, Mirfield, Liversedge, Birstall, Heckmondwike, Cleckheaton & Spen Valley
Friday September 22, 2017
12 MONTHS
No. 808
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CREMATORIUM CHAOS Weeks of funeral delays after ‘cheap’ Kirklees refurb leaves just one cremator in operation
By Staff Reporters EREAVED families face weeks of anguish and delays after Dewsbury Crematorium fell foul of ‘cheap’ Kirklees Council repairs. The facility in Dewsbury Moor has been the centre of repeated investment arguments dating back years and despite having superficial improvements four years ago, is now running at only one third of its capacity. Instead of being able to cope with nine or 10 funerals a day, the Dewsbury Moor facility is down to just three services after two of its three cremators reportedly failed within 24 hours of each other. Kirklees’s failure to take
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care of the most vital part of the crematorium brought a stinging rebuke this week from a director of a major North Kirklees funeral firm. Helen Wilson, of George Brooke Ltd in Dewsbury, said this has been a problem waiting to happen. “When I said 15 years ago that I would believe we were getting a new crematorium once I saw diggers in the ground, I was rounded on for being negative,” she said. “This is simply not fair on bereaved families and it’s fine Kirklees saying that we have a new porch and improved car parking, but that’s no use to people left in this situation, unable to give their loved ones the funeral
they deserve,” she said. The first available dates for funerals at Dewsbury Crematorium are already nearly a month in advance. Mrs Wilson said the problem was that despite the cosmetic improvements, the three cremators – which are about 25 years old – were not replaced, but were merely refurbished with their interiors re-lined. The result has seen bereaved families already having to move services to Huddersfield, Wakefield and even Elland, rather than being left waiting for a date at the facility that is supposed to serve the district. “I’d like to be able to tell people when this situation is
Cosmetic improvements were made at Dewsbury Crematorium (above) but the bigger problems were neglected, says Helen Wilson (left)
likely to improve, but so far we haven’t had any word whatsoever from Kirklees,” Mrs Wilson added. A Kirklees Council spokesman said: “We are experiencing some ongoing technical issues at Dewsbury
Moor Crematorium and as a result we are only able to carry out three cremations a day at this time rather than the usual 10. “We are working hard to rectify the situation and will provide an update to local funeral directors as soon as we have further information about when we will be able to return to normal operation. “The crematorium remains open and we are doing our
best to manage demand each day. The Huddersfield Crematorium is available to book as an alternative. “The Book of Remembrance and other memorials in the crematorium grounds are available for visitors to pay their respects to seven days a week. “We apologise for the inconvenience and impact on local families and funeral directors.”