Worcester’s Astwood Crematorium is planned to become the greenest in the region with a major eco-friendly upgrade.
If okayed, the crematorium will be very eco-friendly. It’ll likely be the greenest one around. Worcester City Council runs this crematorium now. Lynn Denham leads Worcester City Council.
She says it cuts the carbon footprint way down. The crematorium will reopen next year. Sustainable sources will power the whole site. The city council’s suppliers will provide electricity.
Cremators will also make extra heat. It warms the building and the water. They will install two new electric cremators. These replace the old gas ones; there were three.
The chapel gets fixed up too. A heat recovery system is part of it. Outside, they plan a new chapel garden. They’ll improve the landscaping in the cemetery. Two parking spots get electric car chargers.
The cemetery already has a Green Flag award. The work boosts biodiversity even more. It is a location that people really love. Denham said the place becomes more welcoming.
It provides a better atmosphere for remembering loved ones. The refurbishment aims to do this. The Public Sector Decarbonisation scheme gives £1.4 million. This money will fund the whole project. It covers all the needed refurbishment.
The council wants work to start in August. The crematorium would close for nine months. This is so they can finish the construction.
The council seeks solutions for funeral services. They want funerals to continue in the city. More info will come out later about this.