Crematorium decision 'heavy-handed'

16 January 2007

A leading opposition councillor is to urge Cambridge City Council to reverse its 'heavy-handed' decision to ban mementos from the city's crematorium.

Coun Kevin Blencowe, Labour's community services spokesman, said the decision, announced last week, ' was very heavy-handed and does not take into account people's emotional needs. I don't believe it was proper for the council to have taken this stand on such a sensitive matter.'

He said he would be asking Coun Sheila Stuart, executive councillor for community development, at a meeting of the council's community services committee on Thursday (Jan 18) to think again about 'this very unpopular' decision.

The ban was announced following a health and safety investigation after a young girl cut her hand on a broken vase at the crematorium.

Coun Blencowe added: 'We have to balance safety with the needs of grieving relatives paying their respects to their loved ones.'