Cremations to resume after six-month suspension

Cremations are set to resume at a city funeral facility after a six-month pause while structural problems in the building were fixed.

Operating restrictions at Lawnswood Crematorium were imposed by Leeds City Council after defects were found during a survey in November.

Temporary arrangements meant funerals could still be held at the site on Otley Road, Adel, but bodies then had to be taken to crematoria in Rawdon or Cottingley.

A council spokesperson said cremations were due to resume at Lawnswood from Monday.

"We recognise that the temporary suspension of cremations at Lawnswood will have caused inconvenience and some extra worry for bereaved families and loved ones at an already difficult time," the spokesperson said.

"The suspension was put in place by the council after potential issues were found during a routine structural inspection in November.

"Following further detailed checks and remedial work that has provided additional support for the frame of the building, it has now been given a clean bill of health by a structural engineer."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the spokesperson added that the council was "extremely grateful for the support and understanding of everyone who has been affected by the unavoidable disruption of the last few months".

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