"We need to invest in a new crematorium...away from the hospital"

Friday 28 May 2021

The Economic Development Minister has confirmed his support for moving the Crematorium, but emphasised that there are "absolutely no plans" to touch the memorial gardens.

Speaking yesterday, Senator Lyndon Farnham it would be "highly likely" that a new crematorium would be provided, and that he thought the project would be "better placed" somewhere else in the island.

"There is of course a debate about the suitability of the crematorium being located so close to the hospital - the crematorium is also coming towards the end of its useful life and needs investment," the Deputy Chief Minister said, as concept designs for the new hospital at Overdale were released yesterday.

"Whilst saying that, I would say there are absolutely no plans to move or interfere in the memorial gardens, and the crematorium would be a separate project - but I think it highly likely that a new crematorium would be provided."

He added: "I personally think, and I know a number of the team and colleagues share a similar view, that the crematorium might be better placed somewhere else in the island - but that is a different work stream, and that's something that’s going to start running in parallel very soon."

Senator Farnham reiterated there were "no plans to touch the memorial garden at all", but stated again that he thought "we need to invest in a new crematorium, and that will be better sited away from the main hospital site," but that "for the immediate future we're going to focus on getting our new hospital built."

Earlier this month, Express reported that Rob Etchell, Director of Lead Designers Llewelyn Davies, said "there is a probably a high chance that that crematorium won’t be there on the day the hospital opens."

However, later that day Senator Farnham said that "there are currently no plans in place to relocate the Crematorium, although it is possible some services may temporarily move during certain construction phases of the new hospital."