Call to suspend baby cremations in Shrewsbury over ashes scandal
Bereaved parents are calling for baby cremations to be suspended at Shrewsbury's crematorium until there can be a guarantee that ashes will be returned to grieving families.
The Action for Ashes group says there are other crematoria that could hold the services while changes in practice are made at Emstrey Crematorium.
It follows the revelation that grieving families were not given back the ashes of their babies.
Glen Perkins, of Action for Ashes, was told that there were no ashes after the cremation of his baby four-month-old daughter Olivia in 2007.
He said said: "There are 60 families that we are in contact with and we are determined to work to ensure that no family in the future has to go through what we and others had to go through.
"Until Shrewsbury can guarantee the return of ashes then we believe that there should be no baby cremations.
"In the past families just took it as gospel that there were no ashes. It wasn't naivety, it was what we were told. But there are good crematoria that guarantee ashes that families could use while the inquiry into Shrewsbury is underway."
Action for Ashes is also calling for a regulatory body for crematoriums.
"They have just appointed an inspector of crematoriums in Scotland but we have nothing in England and it is something that is definitely needed.
"We know that there are families as far apart as Hull, Bristol, Sheffield and London, that had no ashes returned so we so need a regulatory body."
A spokesman for Shropshire Council said the authority had already commissioned an independent inquiry into infant cremations at Emstrey. "It would be inappropriate to comment while the inquiry is underway and until we have received the report and its recommendations."
A spokesman for the Co-operative Funeralcare, which has operated the crematorium since 2011, said: "Following the installation of new equipment at the site, we have returned ashes in all cases for baby cremations.
"Whilst this is the case, our policy has been drawn up to reflect industry recommendations provided by the FBCA, Infant Cremation Commission and ICCM.
"In line with this, our policy advises families that we cannot fully guarantee ashes.
"We recognise that the death of a baby is particularly difficult for any family and we continue to offer our full support to the ongoing inquiry."
The subject was raised in the house of Commons this week by Shrewsbury & Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski, who asked if the Government had plans to review burial and cremation law.
