Compensation Deal Over Baby Ashes Scandal

A compensation scheme to settle claims from more than 100 families affected by the Mortonhall baby ashes scandal has been offered by Edinburgh Council. The local authority has also announced two memorial sites are being planned. Over decades, the remains of stillborn and dead newborn babies were disposed of at the Edinburgh crematorium without the families knowing. Parents were instead told there would be no ashes left to scatter following cremation. A proposed settlement scheme developed with lawyers representing 129 families will provide payments of between £1,000 and £4,000. Council officials also revealed designs for two permanent memorials to be developed later this year, with one planned for Mortonhall (pictured). It was decided a second memorial should be built elsewhere in the city as some families said they would never return to the crematorium grounds. Suggested sites include the city's Princes Street Gardens and the Meadows. A survey involving affected parents was carried out over what the memorials should look like, with responses including a sculpture, a statue or water feature. The draft designs are contained in a report going before councillors next week when they will decide on the proposed compensation scheme.