Yesterday on Local TV and National TV there was report from Shrewsbury about the inability of cremators to deliver infant babies ashes, after a cremation. The press and media reports caused huge anguish for parents in Shropshire. I am pleased to report That Wolverhampton City Council has briefed all its Councillors about our local situation, and the Bushbury Cremators.
- The Emstrey report was commissioned following reports that no ashes had been returned to parents following infant cremations at the Emstrey crematorium in Shrewsbury under the authority of Shropshire Council.
- The non-return of ashes was primarily due to technical limitations of cremators in use and the cremation procedures adopted which meant that no ashes were recoverable from infant cremations.
- The Council’s Bushbury Crematorium routinely recovers ashes from infant cremations and deals with them according to family`s wishes.
- The council’s cremators have an infant setting which lowers the temperature of the cremator and helps to recover remains from the cremation.
I do hope that this information relating to Families loss of loved ones here in our City, puts minds at rest. I want to thank the City Council for moving swiftly and providing members with the sort of clarification we have now. Which should do much to reassure our constituents if they find themselves faced with the tragedy of infant death.
