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Major refurbishment of the Parndon Wood Cemetery & Crematorium is planned for the summer of 2012
THIS is the first look at a £750,000 scheme to update Parndon Wood Crematorium in the most major overhaul to the facility since it opened in 1961.
A stunning open chapel bathed in light with large bay windows and a stained glass window form the centrepiece of plans to go before Harlow Council in the New Year.
Other measures being put forward include a larger covered area for mourners to gather, a glazed archway and extra parking. Local people, funeral directors and clergy have also had their say on the ambitious scheme with consultation ongoing since September.
Highlights of the changes being put forward include:
- A complete refurbishment of the chapel, office and all public areas.
- The creation of a much more open, light chapel with large bay windows on both sides overlooking the nearby woodland and a new hedged garden complete with water feature.
- A glazed, arched roof forming the centre piece of a new entrance to the chapel.
- A new overspill car park to relieve congestion and improve the circulation of traffic.
- An enlarged area for mourners to congregate after the funeral and view floral tributes. The area will be covered with a modern canopy and the adjoining roadways will be widened to provide a private exit route for funeral cars.
- Extra and enhanced landscaping around the chapel, floral tribute area and crematorium complex as a whole.
The revamped design is being overseen by Westerleigh, the private cemetery and crematorium operator which took up management of the service on Friday 1 July 2011. Parndon Wood Crematorium has been leased to the company for 25 years whilst the Council continues to retain ownership.
Cllr Tony Hall, Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: "The point of our deal with Westerleigh was to secure new investment for a facility that everyone agreed was in need of updating. Parndon Wood needs to be taken into the 21st century with a variety of improvements that the Council simply could not afford to do.
"This ambitious plans underline what we want to do - to create a modern, tranquil but dignified environment where people can say farewell to their loved ones."
Tina Griffin, head of the cemetery’s friends group, said she was encouraged by the consultation taking place over changes to Parndon Wood. She said: "We are delighted that we being taking seriously and that Westerleigh want to listen to our views. They have already made a difference to the grounds and we believe that they genuinely want to work with us to ensure that the best possible service is provided’
The management deal between Harlow Council and Westerleigh will pave the way for investment of £3 million over the next 25 years. Other major items of investment include two new cremators and emissions control equipment.
Richard Evans, Managing Director of Westerleigh said: "The refurbishment of the chapel is the next stage in a number of improvements we are planning at Parndon Wood. Regular visitors have already noticed care of the grounds being stepped up and we're confident they will welcome the bigger changes on the way.
"The encouraging thing is that our plans our based on what regular visitors, local people and professionals in the funeral industry have told us they want. We believe they will create the right environment for those attending a funeral service and for people who visit graves for years to come."
If approved, work will start on the plans next summer.
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Building of New Crematorium in Scottish Borders Begins
Plans for a new crematorium were approved last year at Melrose in the Borders of Scotland following extensive consultation with Funeral Directors, Clergy and other community groups. It was the conclusion of some fifteen years of searching within the area.
The building of a crematorium on this site provides a significant benefit to the community in the Scottish Borders. The site is in a central and accessible, sustainable location. The proposed development will provide important savings in travel times, journey miles and in CO2 emissions.
Currently families seeking cremation in the Borders have the experience of lengthy journeys to Edinburgh, Dumfries or Carlisle; hence the tranquillity of a facility beneath the Eildon Hills, close to the banks of the River Tweed, will be most welcome. The key characteristics of the site will include:-
- Twelve acres of adjoining fields to be planted with native species to the north and west of crematorium site.
- The above will create a private setting and no intrusive views from outside.
- The building will be dressed with local stone and a major feature will be the wooden beams of the Porte Cochere.
- The building will have seating for just under 100 people but the congregation may be doubled given the large amount of standing room available.
- Large windows will result in a very light and welcoming chapel which will have views of the beautiful surrounding countryside.
- Abatement equipment will be fitted to ensure that emissions will be eliminated.
- The chimney height will be reduced by around 3 metres from traditional crematoria.
Initially the site will hold around 500 funerals per annum, slowly growing to 900 over ten years. This will enable services of 45 minutes to one hour hence allowing families greater privacy. It is anticipated that the site will be open to the public in December 2011
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November 2010
Refurbished Crematorium re-opens
Torquay crematorium was re-opened this week following months of work to improve the building and facilities.
Alex Finch, manager of the crematorium, is delighted with the finished appearance ‘ It has made a massive difference as virtually all of the internal areas have been renewed and upgraded. The whole appearance of the crematorium has also changed and the addition of a new porte cochere has created a much greater sense of ceremony for arriving funeral cars’.
The refurbishment of the crematorium has led to a whole range of improvements designed to provide a better service to the bereaved:
- Enlarged and refurbished chapel complete with new lighting and a state of the art digital music system. A new heating and climate control system has also been fitted.
- Restoration of the original catafalque and committal doors in line with the wishes of local funeral directors and clergy.
- New office added in an extension alongside the chapel to provide greater assistance to funeral directors and families. The original office at the entrance gates will remain as a cemetery office and genealogy room.
- New floral tribute canopy set alongside the memorial lawn. Additional planting and landscaping work is now taking place to provide a more private place for mourners who have just left the chapel and need time to meet with friends and family.
- New toilets and waiting room. An additional toilet for the disabled has also been provided together with other facilities to improve access.
- Overhaul of the memorial room which houses the books of remembrance.
- Enlarged entrance gates to allow two way traffic.
- Major refurbishment and upgrade of the cemetery chapel on Barton Road.
Some minor snagging still remains and further weather protection is planned for the floral tribute area but the changes have impressed local funeral directors and clergy:
Elaine Harrison, Manager of Torbay & District Funeral Service: ‘Westerleigh (the operators of the cremator) have consulted us throughout and altered the designs in light of our comments to ensure that we make the most of this opportunity. We have all worked together to try and minimise the disruption to mourners whilst the crematorium was closed and the refurbishment of the cemetery chapel proved to a great help during this time. The finished results are a vast improvement and will make a big difference to people’s experiences of the crematorium’.
Alex Finch added: ‘We are really delighted to see the work completed as it has been a strain on everyone but the final appearance makes it all worthwhile’.
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