Poole Crematorium will get working cremators in £2.7m plan

BCP Council’s cabinet decided to go with the plan which will require an £2.7million investment in the facility off Gravel Hill.

The crematorium has been without cremators since 2020 and in the past three years it has been operating as a ceremonial venue only, with bodies conveyed to Bournemouth for cremation.

Cabinet members were presented with four options at a meeting on March 8 and they decided to commit to investing in two new electric cremators made on the continent.

There were calls from opposition Liberal Democrat and Poole People councillors to ask for business cases on this option and the proposal of using UK market technology, which is due to be released next year.

Council leader Cllr Philip Broadhead said while he appreciated the sentiment from Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Brooke for “more haste, less speed”, the senior Conservative member said this can lead to “more dither and delay”.

Cllr Philip Broadhead (Image: BCP Council)

“In an effort not just to keep kicking the can down the road, we need to take the decision now,” Cllr Broadhead said.

Poole Engage Parkstone councillor Steve Baron said: “I am so pleased that this is finally coming forward. It is well overdue. It is essential that Poole has its crematorium fixed and we just need to get on with this.”

Bournemouth Central Conservative councillor Hazel Allen said the authority “can’t keep putting off decisions”.

“It gives certainty because I think every time you start looking at something new the certainty around the costs of that, the timelines for bringing that forward and getting it installed, everything just keeps getting pushed back and pushed back,” Cllr Allen said.

“It is very clear from residents and from action groups that is not what people want. They want us to get on, make a plan, a certain plan with some proper timelines so we know we are able to deliver this and this is a commitment we have made.”

Cabinet member Cllr Mike White said: “We have heard very clearly from the faith community in Poole who support option three (two new electric cremators). It is really important we do get on with this.”

It is expected the work on installing the new cremators will be completed in 2024/25.

Funeral directors and faith leaders, including the Churches Together in Poole group, campaigned for the council to put working cremators back in at the Poole site.

Nick Douch, managing director of Douch Family Funeral Directors, said: “It always seemed the wrong decision to close it permanently as a crematorium.

“We lobbied and campaigned hard and the councillors really took the message on board and thankfully have decided to return it to an operational facility.

Nick Douch

“The council’s plans had been to spend a great deal of money improving it just as a ceremonial venue.

“We always felt that the money would be better spent making it work as intended – and now that will happen, although we’re not sure how long the installation will take.

“Part of our campaign was to lobby for electric cremators so the council could show off its eco credentials, and that is what they have gone for.”