Following the government’s announcement on Monday 3 May that the legal limit on numbers of mourners at funerals will be removed at the next stage of the roadmap, Solihull Council will remove the limit on mourners outside at gravesides in its cemeteries from 17 May.
However, due to the size of its chapels, the current limit of 30 mourners will remain in place for funeral services conducted inside. This is to ensure sufficient space for social distancing and keep venues COVID secure.
From 17 May, Solihull will also allow mourners to backfill graves – as this is outside - and up to two mourners to witness the cremator being charged inside. Backfilling graves and witnessing the cremator being charged have both been restricted during lockdown. They are important to some mourners, usually for religious reasons.
Mourners should wear face coverings, observe social distancing and use hand sanitizer. Nobody should attend funerals if they have COVID symptoms, have tested positive or are self-isolating.
The council has decided to make it clear how the new rules will be interpreted locally as soon as possible, but all of the changes outlined above are subject to the next stage of the government’s roadmap going ahead on 17 May.
For more information about the government’s announcement on Monday, see - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/limit-on-mourners-at-funerals-to-be-removed?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=05e0d367-3798-4b2a-bcd6-ce422c98abce&utm_content=immediately