Crematorium on the cards for site near Corby

Corby is one step closer to having its own crematorium after early plans for a state-of-the-art facility went on show.

Currently those in the town and its surrounding villages who say their final goodbyes at a cremation service have to travel to Kettering or further afield.

But that could soon change after Dignity Funerals - who operate 46 crematoria in the UK including at Milton Malsor near Northampton - outlined their vision for a new site just outside Corby.

They have launched a consultation and hope to build a crematorium in Corby Road, Gretton, just over 1km south of the village and on the northern edge of the steel town.

It would have a 120-seat chapel, memorial gardens and a linear reflection pool running between the two.

A Dignity Funerals spokesman said: "We are proposing a single-storey crematorium with carefully landscaped memorial gardens that complement the existing countryside.

"The building would be a distinctive, contemporary design and constructed from local materials.

"The facility would be able to accommodate large congregations and provide a multi-faith or a neutral religious service. We would also offer the latest audio and visual tribute systems with the ability to live-stream the funeral to relatives anywhere in the world that cannot attend the service.

"The latest cremator technology would be installed that complies with all current environmental legislation. This means there would be no smoke emission or noise from the cremation operation.”

Earlier this year a long-term plan to extend Corby's Shire Lodge Cemetery by adding 3,000 extra burial plots and a cremation burial area was revealed.

The need for a crematorium in Corby has been talked about for many years but plans have never got off the ground.

It was looked at by Corby Council but two-and-a-half years ago the Labour-run authority felt there was not enough room on the existing site.

Cllr Mark Pengelly, Corby Council's lead member for environment, said: "We had to expand the cemetery and we did look at having a crematorium but it just did not work.

"There is a need for a crematorium in Corby I believe. I think it's wrong we have to go to Kettering every time.

"They (Dignity Funerals) are currently consulting with residents and I would encourage residents to let them know what they think."

The main roof of the building will have a 'green roof' and the facility will have a car park for about 100 vehicles. Access to the site would be from a ghost island right turn lane junction in Corby Road.

Plans say new facilities in Wellingborough in 2016 and Great Glen in 2017 have relieved pressure on some sites within driving distance, including the Warren Hill crematorium in Kettering.

But they have had no effect on Peterborough's crematorium, which is still running 30-minute service slot times.

Dignity Funeral hope the new Corby crematorium would relieve some pressure on Peterborough, allowing it to increase its service slot times, and provide a site for the "underserved" areas of Corby and neighbouring Rutland.

The spokesman urged people to give them feedback on their draft ideas before they submit a planning application to Corby Council

They said: “Whilst a public consultation is not a requirement of the planning process we find it helpful to show local residents our draft proposals.

"We want feedback on our ideas from the public so that their views are considered prior to a planning application being submitted.

"We believe there is a requirement for a crematorium in the area and that the land is suitable for development.

"If approved, this development would provide a crematorium within a 30 minute drive for more than 19,000 residents."

To view the plans and have your say, visit the consultation website here. It will be open for comments until Friday, September 25.

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