Bid to hold public funeral pyres

A race relations group is hoping to be allowed to hold open-air Hindu funeral pyres in the North East.

The Anglo-Asian Friendship Society, based in Gosforth, has submitted an application to Newcastle Council requesting land for cremations.

The practice has been illegal in this country since 1930.

Newcastle Council said it would consider the request by taking environmental issues into account.

Currently members of the Hindu and Sikh community have special permission from Gateshead's Council to scatter ashes on the River Derwent, but they also want to hold full cremations in the open.

Andrew Bogan spokesman for the Society said the pyres should be on a site far from people's homes.

Legal implications

He said: "With a traditional Hindu funeral appropriate disposal of ashes is a priority, they need to be cooled and diligently collected so there is no intermingling with other ashes.

"This can be difficult under present circumstances. Family members will then travel to India to offer the ashes into the River Ganges at great personal cost.

"We have left the ball in the council's and are proposing an out-of-town area because we want to be sensitive to cross-cultural sensibilities.

"As it would be open air, there would be filtration systems and it would be discreet to protect the spirit of the law. "

A statement from Newcastle Council said: "We look forward to reading the proposals, however until we have had a chance to examine the legal, environmental and financial implications we are not in a position to make a comment."