Council pet crem plan
ASHES OF FURRY FRIENDS WILL BE RETURNED TO FAMILIES
PLANS for a new pet cremation service run by Gedling Borough Council have been approved.
It means those who lose their beloved pets will now be able to have them cremated in the local area.
The new council-run service will collect pets from people’s houses and take them away, before bringing back the ashes.
Council bosses said market research had shown that pet ownership is particularly high in the East Midlands.
They said 31 percent of households owned a dog (with an average of 1.5 dogs per dog-owning household), and 20 percent of households owned a cat (with an average of 1.8 cats per cat-owning household).
The new scheme, which was formally approved at a meeting this week, is believed to be the first such service run by a local authority in the East Midlands.
The leader of council, Councillor John Clarke, says the service will be “dignified and respectful”.
He also called the project “innovative”, saying the council was finding new ways to generate income and protect front-line services.
The scheme also had the support of the Conservative representative at Thursday’s cabinet meeting, Councillor Kevin Doyle, who represents the Trent Valley ward.
Initially, the cremations will be run just for people in Gedling. But if it is a success, the council hopes to expand to other areas.
A total of £89,000 is being spent setting the scheme up, but the council has predicted it will generate £88,000 in its first full financial year.
The crematorium itself will be run from the Jubilee Road council depot and the council is in the process of applying for the special licenses needed.
It will also buy refrigerated vehicles in which to carry the dead animals.
The council aims to start the scheme on or before April 1, 2019.