Funerals at Perth Crematorium are being put on the clock, The Courier can reveal, with ministers literally being given a red light during a service when they allow it to over-run.
The controversial new system, in which a flashing warning light will be activated by a member of staff when a service lasts longer than planned, has been introduced by Perth and Kinross Council, which manages the crematorium.
The council’s hard-line stance is indicative of an “attitude problem” at the crematorium, a local funeral director has claimed.
He suggested they have decided to tackle a “problem that isn’t there.”
Moreover, it is understood that ministers were taken aback by the tenor of a letter they received from the council which warned them that, if they did not adhere to the new warning light system, they will look into taking even stricter measures.
The funeral director, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “The crematorium attendants have a button they press after 20 minutes and a flashing red light comes on.
“Time has never been an issue at Perth Crematorium. The system as it was has worked perfectly well since 1962 but the way this council works it likes to fix things that aren’t broken.
“If a service over-runs it over-runs. These things happen in life. A flashing light on a lectern isn’t going to change anything.Attitude problem”They’re looking for a problem that isn’t there. There is an hour between services in Perth, compared with half-an-hour in Dundee.
“Ministers received a letter, the tone of which left a lot to be desired. It told them that if they don’t do this, they will look at something else.
“They have an attitude problem, which is sad.”
A council spokesman said, “The allotted time for a service at Perth Crematorium is 20 minutes and this is something that ministers have been aware of for a long time.
“If a service over-runs, it can create problems for the next service scheduled to take place, holding up the family, mourners and the funeral directors involved.
“We have recently begun, where a service is due immediately afterwards and it appears ministers will run over, to ask them to finish up the service within the next five minutes.”
The council had to defend itself earlier this summer over another controversy regarding Perth Crematorium.
It was decided to quietly axe crematorium organists, raising fears that cash-strapped families would be priced out of a proper send-off for their loved ones if they couldn’t afford an additional £50 fee for a freelance organist.
The council was accused of being “hard-hearted” for making the change without meaningful consultation.