Lib Dems want web link to historic records (Cambridge Liberal Democrats)

Cambridge Liberal Democrats <camlibdems@gmail.com>

Lib Dems want web link to historic records

June 23, 2009 9:58 AM

Councillor Clare Blair

Handwritten burial and cremation registers for Cambridge, some dating back to around the turn of the century, could be available on the internet if a plan by the city's Liberal Democrats goes ahead.

The move is designed to provide a comprehensive web-based portal allowing family historians and genealogists to search records from across the world for a modest fee.

Records available on-line will include details of the 139,000 cremations carried out at Cambridge City Crematorium since it opened in 1938 and the 33,000 burials which have taken place at the city's two cemeteries in Huntingdon Road and Newmarket Road since 1902.

Executive City Councillor for Community Development and Health Clare Blair said: "This exciting project will, not only give anyone interested in researching family history ease of access to thousands of the city's records, but it will also preserve them for future generations.

"Historic data, which is only available at the moment by painstakingly searching through book after book, will be available in a fraction of the time and help to speed up the council's enquiry service."

Members of Cambridge City Council's Community Services Committee will be asked on Thursday (June 25) to agree to paying £2,000 a year service and maintenance costs which are expected to be offset by projected income rising to around £3,500 by year six.