Council admits wrong information was included in crematorium planning application – In Your Area

Council bosses have admitted that details included in a planning application to refurbish Rochdale Crematorium are incorrect.

The application, submitted by Rochdale Borough Council for the refurbishment of the crematorium, stated that the crematorium is unable to process bariatric coffins - which hold people who are severely overweight - among a backlog of other issues.

However, when contacted by the Observer, the council admitted that details included in the application were "incorrect."

They said: "Rochdale definitely has the capacity to process bariatric coffins at Rochdale Crematorium."

They added that the planning department has now been contacted over the issue.

In explaining the need for the refubishment - a section which the council has not disputed - the application highlights the issues of equipment consistently breaking down.

A council spokesman said: Rochdale Council currently operates two cremators at Rochdale Crematorium, one of which is capable of processing larger bariatric coffins it is one of the few bariatric cremators in Greater Manchester, regularly assisting with cremations from neighbouring local authorities.

"And, we already have fully functioning cremulators and ash transfer cabinets at Rochdale.

We are also well underway in replacing Crawford cremators and Mercury abatement system with two further bariatric cremators; new abatement systems and ash processing equipment for our Rochdale site. Works are expected to be completed within the next twelve months.

Further cremation facilities can also be found at Middleton Crematorium, with similar ash processing equipment meaning we have a greater capacity to offer cremations for families who have lost loved ones than most other authorities in the area.

Rochdale Crematorium is the only crematorium out of eight areas to have not had its faulty equipment replaced, causing delays in cremations, the application says.

In 2011, Rochdale was one of eight authorities to have cremators installed by a firm which went into liquidation two years later.

The cremators have caused a catalogue of problems, frequently breaking down among other operational issues, according to planning docuements.

In total eight crematoriums fitted the cremators, and all authorities have now removed them and installed different manufacturers equipment, apart from Rochdale, council chiefs say.

As plans have been submitted to refurbish Rochdale Crematorium, it is hoped the cremators will now finally be replaced.

Cremation equipment usually has a life span of twenty years and Middleton Crematorium's equipment has currently been in use for over 25 years.

The problems at Rochdale have been compounded further by the poor quality of both the cremators and mercury abatement equipment.

As a result, the council must now to consider replacing the entire installation with proven equipment from a new manufacturer which will also be flexible to cope with anticipated future emission level requirements, and operate more energy efficiently than at present.

New cremation equipment makes up part of the proposals to renovate the crematorium.

The Leader of the Conservative Party in Rochdale has criticised the facilities, which sometimes require people to be cremated in Middleton.

Councillor Ashley Dearnley said: "I think it's really unfortunate if that's the case because people who live in Rochdale wish their families to be cremated in Rochdale, and not need to go out of the town.

"Often, they have to wait weeks and weeks which is unacceptable.

"We should make sure that the equipment not only works but is also able to deal with present day circumstances - people are bigger than they used to be.

"We should be able to handle larger coffins.

"I am aware there have been major breakdowns in the past.

"It's so unfair for the families and it's not good for our undertakers either.

"We need to make sure that our equipment is of the standard it should be.

"Middleton is always the fallback and it shouldn't be like that - there have been problems with Rochdale crematorium since almost the start of the equipment being fitted."

The chapel at the crematorium is also to be extended and refurbished, with a new waiting area created.

The crematorium, situated in Rochdale Cemetery, first opened in 1938 and has largely remained the same except for a small extension to the existing crematory, enlarged staff facilities and small book of remembrance building.

The facilities "therefore do not reflect those which are expected by visiting mourners in the modern day", the docuements say.

The building is not listed, but is situated in the landscape of the cemetery.

The area housing the existing cremation process is very restricted and requires enlargement together with strengthening works to the support slab, improvements to the electricity supply and replacement of the central heating boiler, according to council documents.

A new cremulator and ash transfer cabinet - which process the remains post-cremation - are required along.

Further improvements planned include upgraded accommodation for funeral directors on site and enhanced weather protection for mourners attending services between the new waiting room and the chapel entrance.

Also integral with the new layout will be facilities for those mourners wishing to safely view the charging of a coffin into the cremator, as required by some religious groups notably Hindus and Sikhs.

Whilst this cremator is fully operational it does not have mercury filtration equipment fitted, and therefore consideration will have to be given in the future to either replacing it, which may not be viable given the relatively small number ofcremations being held there, or removing it entirely, offering the opportunity to expand the chapels capacity and carrying out the cremations at Rochdale instead.

A planning application has now been submitted by the council to replace the cremators and refurbish the crematorium.

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Council admits wrong information was included in crematorium planning application - In Your Area