PR 277

For Immediate Release

25 October 2006

Gorleston crematorium is set to reopen on Monday October 30 after a four month spell of reduced services, while new facilities were being built.

The reopening will see an enlarged waiting room and a new glass reception area with improved disability facilities.

Since June families and friends have been organising services in other venues, such as churches, as the building work at the crematorium made access to many public areas impossible.

“When the crematorium was built in 1968 it wasn’t used in the same way that it is today,” explained Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s Bereavement Services Manager Linda Bigg.

“There were fewer services in the early years. As cremation became more popular from the 1980s it became the venue for the main service. That has meant an increasing number of services with larger congregations.

“The old waiting room could accommodate about 20 people, while the new one will take around 50. The decoration is much brighter with concealed lighting and new furniture.

“The reception area has been altered to provide facilities such as lower counters to help the users of wheelchairs.”

Linda’s staff and those leading the services will also benefit from new offices, vestry, and vase room allowing visitors access to vases and water for use in the Book of Remembrance Chapel.

Additional CCTV has also been installed to provide improved security for the main building and the Book of Remembrance Chapel.

Other changes include both entrances to the garden of remembrance being resurfaced, and the walkways between headstones in cremated remains areas being widened by the filling in of gullies to enable wheelchair access.

On the same site, at the Magdalen cemetery, new pathways are being constructed to two new burial sites.

The new building is the latest phase of improvement work started last year when the main chapel was refurbished and the seating capacity increased.

“We want to thank everyone for being patient over the last few months,” added Linda. “We hope that the new facilities will make what can be a very difficult occasion less stressful.”

The crematorium has remained open for committal services since the building work began.

For further information contact Bereavement Services Manager Linda Bigg on 01493 441974.

Issued by:
Liz Dann
Press Officer
Great Yarmouth Borough Council
01493 846513