Woollensbrook Cemetery And Crematorium Set To Open In New Year

Work is well underway to finally provide a new crematorium for Broxbourne residents.

Permission was granted in summer 2015 to The Westerleigh Group after being unanimously supported by Broxbourne Council’s Planning Committee.

Construction work started later that year to create a new entrance from the Hertford road and provide a bridge over Woollensbrook. Internal roads, drainage and car parking have now been completed along with a bank of community mausolea, designed in the Italian tradition.

The Mausolea have been sympathetically set into the landscape, offering views of the surrounding countryside whilst conveniently placed alongside dedicated car parking and memorial gardens.

“It is easy to see now how the mausoloea complement the landscape in the way that we promised. There is still much more work to complete but we are pleased with how it has progressed so far” commented Richard Evans, Managing Director of Westerleigh who added “A number of families have already chosen positions and we have appointments to see more in the coming days. We all appreciate that the surrounding landscape is special and families can draw comfort from this wonderful natural setting.”

The site is positioned at Woollensbrook, off Hertford Road in Hoddesdon, and will provide vital additional burial ground for Hoddesdon, with the existing cemetery on Ware Road expected to run out of space in the next two years.

There is also a recognised need for a new crematorium to serve the borough, to provide a more accessible choice and relieve pressure on neighbouring crematoria at Enfield and Stevenage. Work is now concentrated on completing the crematorium in time for the New Year.

The state of the art facility – built in the local, rural style – has also been designed to blend into the countryside and will offer a natural, tranquil setting.

Mr Evans added: “It is a secluded, natural spot, ideally suited for holding funerals and allowing families to grieve in peaceful surroundings. The service will also be much quieter than surrounding crematoria with just four to five funerals expected each day, ensuring that each one can hold a unique, dignified event.”