The Council has been working collaboratively with Funeral Directors and we have put in place the maximum arrangements allowed based on HM Government regulations. Our Bereavement Services team has been working relentlessly including long weekends ensuring a sympathetic, professional and caring approach will continue to be followed at all times, especially during this distressing period for us all.
It has been an extremely challenging time for the Bereavement Service based at the Lytham Park Cemetery & Crematorium. Government restrictions and guidelines have resulted in a severe reduction on family members who are allowed to attend funerals and the number of those eligible family members who can safely use the chapel whilst maintaining social distancing. Due to the size of the chapel only 10 family members can attend the service. These measures are necessary to protect everyone attending a service including Mourners, Funeral Directors, Ministers/ Celebrants, cemetery visitors and employees.
Because numbers have been restricted by law, the council has introduced a free live streaming service to enable family and friends who are unable to attend the service the option to watch the ceremony in real time.
As many people attending services are elderly and often in the vulnerable category, a system has been created to keep the different funeral groups apart, in accordance with government guidance. Funerals booked on the hour use the left hand side of the drive and funerals on the half hour use the right hand side. Persons visiting graves and the garden of remembrance to pay their respects to their loved ones are directed away from the main drive to further protect mourners.
Councillor Ben Aitken, Chair of the Housing, Health and Environment Committee at Fylde Council said: “Whilst the stringent restrictions are still in place, plans are already formulated to allow more mourners to attend funerals just as soon as the guidelines on social distancing and mass gatherings permit.”
“In the meantime please can only close family members attend at the Crematorium and maintain social distancing at all times. We appreciate that mourners want to attend and pay their respects, however due to current circumstances and the risks associated with gatherings we cannot allow more than the specified number into the chapel. As soon as it is feasible to do so and when instructed by government we will lift these restrictions.”
