MINISTERS are looking for an alternative site for Jersey’s Crematorium so that funerals do not take place next to the new Hospital at Overdale.
Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan and Health Minister Tom Binet confirmed to the JEP that they wished to identify a more appropriate location and had already held talks about possible sites.
The ministerial duo were speaking at the unveiling of a new temporary facility for funerals at the Royal Jersey Showground. From 1 September, services will be held at the Trinity site, which has been set up to provide the same amenities as the current Westmount location.
Committals, such as those taking place for small family groups after church funeral services, and cremations will continue to take place at Westmount, with the government stressing that the adjacent Garden of Remembrance will remain open at its existing site into the future, regardless of long-term decisions about the Crematorium.
Although the move to switch services to Trinity is designed as a temporary measure to ensure a more peaceful atmosphere as construction starts on the new Hospital, both ministers expressed the hope that services would not return to Westmount, but to a new facility.
Deputy Binet said: “On a personal level, I sincerely hope that by the time the new Hospital is finished, we have found an alternative site and built it so we never go back, because I don’t think it’s appropriate to have a crematorium next to a hospital.
“I had a discussion with the Infrastructure Minister this morning where we discussed alternative, appropriate out-of-town sites.”
Mr Jehan added: “We want to identify somewhere that is suitable for such an important building on the Island – we’ve got a couple of potential sites, so we’ll be looking to find a solution.”
While a new Crematorium would involve securing government funding and clearing planning hurdles, Mr Jehan said he hoped that “two to three years” would be a realistic timescale for such a project.
“The existing equipment at Westmount is nearing the end of its operational life, so in an ideal world we would close that site, and the temporary facility at Trinity and move to a new Crematorium.
It is believed that Warwick Farm in St Helier and land adjacent to the Royal Jersey Showground are among the sites which will be considered.
The temporary Trinity facility is designed to provide the same amenities for funeral services, with seats for around 100 mourners, plus additional standing and outdoor spaces and velvet curtains which close around a catafalque platform for coffins.
Funeral directors and faith leaders were consulted as part of preparations for the move, and a blessing service took place for the new facility yesterday.
Further information is available at gov.je/crematorium
