Councillor John Jarvis, Herefordshire Council's cabinet member for the environment and strategic housing, has cut the first sod has been cut for building work at the new state-of-the-art £3.1million crematorium in Hereford city.
The new crematorium, being built behind the existing one in Westfaling Street, will replace the present facility which was built in 1956 as a committal chapel with seating for 60 people. The old crematorium will be demolished once building works are complete.
Being built by Thomas Vale Construction, the new crematorium will have a lifespan in excess of 50 years, a suitable traffic flow for the public and funeral corteges, a chapel to accommodate 120 people seated and 120 people standing, cremators (one able to take large coffins), mercury filtration, office facilities and car parking.
There will also be a viewing area for people whose religion requires they witness cremations.
Councillor John Jarvis, Herefordshire Council's cabinet member for the environment and strategic housing, said: "We are very excited about the opportunity to build a crematorium of this design and quality.
"We set out from the start to created a place where families could attend a service and feel comforted by their surroundings and able to reflect in peace and quietness. The chapel has been designed to help people though this process.
"A large feature window and a walled garden visible only inside the chapel is key in our desire to create an atmosphere of tranquillity. The road layout should ensure that two funerals will never mix and families can feel that their service is at is should be, individual and unique."
Councillor Harry Bramer, Herefordshire Council's cabinet member
for resources, said: "Before deciding on a new-build, we looked at
various options including extending the present facility but this
was found to be too expensive and it was also felt this would cause
major disruption to the bereavement service on offer to the
county's residents.
"Once complete it has always been the board's brief to enter the
crematorium for a national award and we strongly believe that this
new crematorium will enable us to achieve success," he added.
Some 50,000 cremations have now been carried out at the present crematorium which will stay open until the new building is completed.
The new building should be complete by November 2008.