Public drop in session - improving Cheltenham's cemetery and crematorium

Residents are encouraged to come along to a drop-in session as part of the public consultation for improving Cheltenham’s cemetery and crematorium. Taking place in the chapels at the cemetery and crematorium, the event will run from 5-8pm on Thursday 13 August.

The public are being asked to offer their views based on four options for investment:

• Replace the cremators in the existing facility
• Build a new crematory and continue to use the existing chapels
• Extend the existing crematorium
• Build a new chapel and crematorium

Local residents are invited to come along, view the proposals, fill in questionnaire and meet the council’s architects as well as councillor Chris Coleman, cabinet member for clean and green environment.

Cllr Coleman is personally posting information about the session through the doors of those living in the immediate area of the cemetery and crematorium.  He said:  ‘’It’s vital that residents share their views on the various options for this much needed investment.  Putting a long term sustainable plan in place for the cemetery and crematorium is a priority for the council and we now have more fully developed ideas that we’d very much like feedback on.’’

More information, including the concept plans and feedback questionnaires, is available at the cemetery and crematorium, the Municipal Offices on the Promenade.

The consultation started on 20 July and will run for four weeks, closing on 16 August. The responses will then be collated and a report is scheduled to go to the council’s cabinet meeting for consideration on 15 September 2015.

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All press are welcome to the event

For press enquiries contact: Katie Sandey, communications team leader, telephone 01242 01242 775050, email [email protected]

Notes:

The council needs to invest in the crematorium to improve public facilities, improve reliability, reduce running costs and replace the cremators.

The crematorium is set within the Cheltenham Cemetery which opened in 1863 followed by the addition of the crematorium in 1938. Around 1,900 cremations and 260 burials are currently undertaken each year.

As well as those from Cheltenham and its immediate surrounds, a considerable number of funerals come in from outside the borough, particularly Cotswold District, and the towns of Tewkesbury, Evesham, Pershore, Winchcombe and Stroud.

The buildings have Grade II listed building status because of their architectural and historic interest and are surrounded by significant trees. The majority of the site is a Grade II registered park and garden and has views to the nearby Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.