Crematorium improvement plans to be debated

PLANS to improve Darlington Crematorium will be discussed by councillors next week.

Darlington Borough Council needs to replace the plant and equipment at the Crematorium, in Carmel Road North. At the same time as planning for this significant task, the council has carried out a wider review of the crematorium service.

Numerous alternatives were considered and a report to Cabinet, ahead of a meeting on Tuesday (8 October) recommends a major redesign of the service is undertaken to deliver a crematorium service fit for future generations.

A new chapel with more capacity and modern facilities will be built and parking issues will also be addressed.

Councillor Paul Howell, Cabinet member for Leisure and Local Environment, said: “We are recommending that, at the same time as carrying out the much needed work to install modern, efficient and more environmentally friendly equipment, we take the opportunity to modernise the service. Not to do so would be a missed opportunity.

“The replacement of the equipment would mean major disruption and changes to the existing building so it’s only right that we look at the same time to modernise the overall service.”

In addition to the new chapel it is proposed to create a through-road to Pond Field Close, then exiting onto Salutation Road. This would allow a one-way system to be introduced, minimising the issues currently caused by parking and traffic flow through the cemetery.

Darlington has had a crematorium since 1901 and was one of the first places in the country to have such a facility.

If councillors agree to go ahead with the preferred option identified in the report, work could begin as early as April next year and be completed by March 2021.

The proposed improvements will be subject to planning permission, and residents will have an opportunity to comment on the proposals.

Cabinet meets at 5pm on Tuesday 8 October.