Crematorium upgrade 'progressing well'

A multimillion-pound upgrade to a crematorium was "progressing well" and on track to be completed later this year, the council said.

Three gas-powered cremators at Worcester's Astwood Crematorium are being replaced with two modern electric furnaces.

The chapel is also being refurbished and a new garden with a Japanese theme is being created as part of the works, which began last August.

A Worcester City Council report said the new cremators would be commissioned in late September and the site returned to "normal operations" by mid-October.

Councillor Karen Lewing told a policy and resources committee meeting on Tuesday: "People are so keen for it to open again and it is progressing well.

"They're looking at events and support for the opening to get business back. This is a great project for the council and it's good to see it's meeting its expected outcome."

Council leader Lynn Denham added staff at the crematorium were "raring to go" and were working out the practicalities of getting it reopened.

"The sooner it reopens the better but there is still quite a bit of work to do," she said.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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