CREMATIONS at Skipton could be held over until the next day in a bid to reduce harmful emissions.

Coffins are currently cremated at Skipton Crematorium on the same day they are received, but it could be delayed overnight from September.

It will mean staff will be able to manage cremations with the aim of using just one and not two cremators on the same day.

Although Craven District Council stands to save about £14,000 per year from the move, it says its main motive is to reduce CO2 emissions.

Any savings will also be passed on to the families.

“The primary reason for introducing the ‘holding over’ policy at the crematorium is to reduce CO2 emissions. However, the policy will lead to some small efficiency savings as a result of this reduction," said a council spokesman.

Councillors, who last week agreed to the change, heard "holding over" will only take place with the permission of the family, and will be limited to overnight only, and not up to the maximum allowed of 72 hours.

Holding Over currently takes place in about 46 per cent of UK crematoriums, all of which have to adhere to certain regulations.

They include having the written consent of the family, that cremations take place on the next planned operational cremation day, and there is appropriate storage conditions in place.

Cllr Alan Sutcliffe (Cons, Gargrave) said the efficient use of cremators could see a reduction in C02 emissions of up to 25 per cent and a reduction in fossil fuel usage. There had been generally no objections to the plans from ministers, councillors and funeral directors, he added.

Councillors agreed the letter requesting permission sent to families at such a time would have to be very sensitively written.

The cost of a cremation in Craven is currently £615, compared to £610 in Burnley, £650 in Bradford, £764 in Harrogate and £778 in Leeds.

The average cost of gas per cremation is currently £40, but with holding over it could be reduced to £19, with the saving passed on the families.

The council is also looking at extending cremation service times to an hour, leaving the services themselves at 40 minutes, but allowing an additional ten minutes either side for arrival and departure.