Crematorium set for £7m refurbishment

Plans to renovate a city's crematorium have been revealed by the local council.

The proposals for Worcester include new energy-efficient electric cremators, the refurbishment of the chapel and the complete replacement of the roof.

The council's policy and resources committee will consider the plans, along with the results of a public consultation, on 17 December.

The committee's chair and leader of the city council, Lynn Denham, said: "I am confident that the improvements this will bring to our city's crematorium will be valued and appreciated by our citizens when they are completed."

The council will pay £5.4m towards the scheme with the project set to receive another £1.5m in government funding.

Under the plans, the crematorium's three gas-powered cremators will be replaced with two electric ones.

The council says these will be cheaper to run and cut carbon emissions.

Energy from the cremators will also be recycled to warm the building and solar panels may be installed on the building's roof.

If the plans are approved, work is expected to begin next summer with the crematorium building closed until spring 2026.

"The council's officers are working hard to put temporary arrangements in place that will ensure funeral services can continue to be held in Worcester during the works period," said Denham.

"We will also ensure that Astwood Cemetery's importance as a special place of memory for loved ones is respected at all times."

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