Work in progress to provide funeral webcasting at Kirkcaldy Crematorium 'as soon as possible'

A spokesman for the local authority added that it is hoped they can offer live streaming at both Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline crematoriums as soon as they possibly can.

The move comes following claims the council was ‘caught out’ by a need for the service during the coronavirus lockdown.

A Kirkcaldy councillor has expressed disappointment that webcasting has not been in place for grieving families over the last six weeks, but Alistair Cameron said council staff have been trying to get the equipment in place.

Since the start of lockdown no more than six mourners have been allowed at Fife funerals with the local authority threatening to hold closed services if the restrictions are not followed. It follows reports of large groups congregating at both Fife crematoria.

But while live streaming is already offered at private crematoriums in Edinburgh, councillor Cameron said webcasting wasn’t an issue that has been raised in Fife before because it wasn’t really needed until late March.

He said: “I looked into this a few weeks ago because I was contacted by a couple of families who had expressed frustration about the maximum numbers of people who were being allowed to attend funerals.

“One of the families I was speaking to had 14 extremely close members and the issue was that the numbers allowed at funerals across Scotland are different – going from places like Aberdeen where funerals are closed to certain places in Edinburgh where the numbers have been as high as 20. In Fife, rightly or wrongly, the maximum number has been set at six.

“But what I hadn’t realised is that there is no internet at the crematoriums in Dunfermline or Kirkcaldy and the issue has not come up before.

“I had been promised it would be set up over the last couple of weeks as the council is working to get the technology in place, but it hasn’t happened yet.”

The Labour member for Kirkcaldy central said he knows of one family who set up their own webcasting for a funeral which worked really well and made a huge difference, giving them a sense of closure. But, he said, not every family has the technology to be able to do that.

He continued: “We have been caught out. The lockdown has caught us out on this and this is something that probably should have been in place with hindsight. It has been unfortunate.

“But I hope bereavement services might look at seeing what facilities they can make available to families so if they wish, they can go back at a later time and have a service again to allow them to have closure for their loved ones. It is a really difficult time for them.”

A Fife funeral director, who didn’t want to be named, said they had been told webcasting facilities ready to use by the middle of this week.

“I heard today (Tuesday) that they are hoping to have it up and running by the middle of this week at both Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline Crematoriums and I hope that is the case.

“By the end of this week we should know what we are doing with the facilities. It would certainly make a difference to have it just now.

“One thing that has been happening for funerals is that neighbours are coming out onto the street and they space themselves out accordingly.

“They pay their respects as the family are leaving the house and we just walk the hearse out of the area. But I guess at that point they could go back into the house, put their computer on and watch the service if we have the live streaming in place, which would be good.”

Alan Paul, Fife Council senior manager (property services) said: "We are working hard to make this really difficult time as stress free as possible for families and loved ones within current restrictions.

"Work is progressing on our ability to webcast services. Installation work was completed on Friday and following testing and staff training, we hope to be able to offer this service as soon as possible."

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