Work Continues
Work has been carrying on in preparation for the development of the much needed crematorium at Calderstones Cemetery. As many of you will know Remembrance Parks Construction Ltd already have planning permission for the crematorium, and an area of land has recently been deconsecrated, allowing further preparation work to continue.
As part of his decision, the Bishop of Blackburn requires that the deconsecrated area is only to be used for the building of a crematorium. This will obviously need car parking, the renovation of the chapels and provision of access roads, as per the planning permission of 2019. The ancillary areas now need faculty approval from the Church of England as the ground on which the work will be carried out, remains consecrated. Most of you will be aware that these works are on areas where RPC have provided detailed evidence, including ground penetrating radar surveys and detailed hospital records, showing the only burials are within the one Garden of Remembrance and the graves of the Booth Hall babies. These areas, along with all other burial areas, will be suitably protected throughout any construction work, as shown on our three phase construction plans. We can confidently assure everyone that NO BURIALS WILL BE DISTURBED.
The provision of the crematorium will not only provide much needed high quality cremation services but limited burials will also be permitted. After the many years where there has been insufficient funding for the cemetery, the crematorium will provide sustainable funding to ensure:
· Staffing to assist visitors to the cemetery and crematorium
· Memorialisation for all those buried in the cemetery
· An electronic book of remembrance
· Information and signage telling the story of the heritage of the cemetery
· High standards of grounds maintenance
· Good access to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Military Cemetery during normal working hours
You may soon see some details of our faculty application placed on a notice on the gates of the cemetery and at the Church of Saint Mary, Whalley. Please remember this is likely to be the only option to ensure the sensitive development of the site, providing sustainable funding to provide memorialisation for those buried in the cemetery and avoid the further deterioration of the chapels, lychgate and grounds; providing long term benefits to the local community and the heritage of the cemetery.
Should you have any queries then please feel free to contact us by email on:
