Cemeteries and Crematorium
From April 2021 and for the coming year, construction work will be undertaken at West Cemetery, Carmel Road North to construct a new service chapel, which will provide increased capacity, up to date facilities and include a new car park, in addition the existing crematorium will be fully refurbished to accommodate the replacement of cremators and ancillary equipment and allow the relocation of the cemetery and crematorium office.
All cremation services throughout the year will take place within the West Cemetery Chapel with bookings taken on the hour throughout the day and the funeral director will transport the coffin to the crematorium for cremation following the service.
Visitors are encouraged to park in the existing car park, where a temporary toilet facility has been installed, and make their way to the West Cemetery Chapel for the service. A plan is available to show the current layout and the route for pedestrians and vehicles [pdf document].
From 17 May 2021, the Government has confirmed there will be no restriction to the number of mourners who can attend a funeral service. Although restrictions are being relaxed, there is still the need to social distance and wear face coverings within the building and therefore the restriction to the numbers inside the West Cemetery Chapel remains at 20, however further mourners can gather outside providing they remain socially distanced.
It is possible to arrange for the service to be viewed remotely by webcast and the family will need to arrange this through their appointed funeral director.
In order to keep to the limited number of people attending a service priority should be given to members of the deceased person’s household and their close family and friends.
There is a sanitiser unit to use on entering the Chapel and a face covering should be worn inside the building, mourners are asked to sit at least 2 metres apart if they are not part of the same family and the chapel will be sanitised following each service.
It is asked that anyone who is showing signs of the Coronavirus to not attend the service, however we will try to enable people who are self-isolating due to a possible case of Coronavirus in their household or who are in a clinically vulnerable or shielded group to attend.
Following the service mourners are asked to make their way back to the car park and exit through the main gates, new signs have been positioned in the cemetery to show the direction of travel.
From Monday 17 May 2021, the Book of Remembrance Room has relocated to the front of the crematorium building and continues to open daily from 9.00am – 5.00pm, 2-metre social distancing still applies and a face covering should to be worn when entering the room. Hand sanitiser is available for use in the area of entry. Should you wish, entries can still be viewed on line view book entries online.
Burial services within the cemeteries are taking place with no longer a restricted number of attendees, however it is asked social distancing at the graveside is fully observed for those who are not in a family unit.
The Cemetery Office at the Town Hall continues to be closed for public access, however should you require contact with the office, please call 01325 406744 or email: [email protected]
Information on registering a death
You can find information on bereavement support on the COVID-19 health and wellbeing page