Almost ?3m-worth of work carried out

Douglas Borough Council has completed one of its largest schemes this financial year, the refurbishment of the borough crematorium and cemetery.

There is a new exit from the chapel to separate departing and arriving funeral parties.

There is also improved disabled access, a larger waiting area for mourners, upgraded heating and lighting, new seating, a new Book of Remembrance room and new toilets.

The committal room is now fitted with EU-compliant equipment, a new, larger cremator has been installed and the existing cremator overhauled.

The building has been repainted, floodlit and fitted with CCTV, while the main driveway has been resurfaced and the pathways, boundary walls and Garden of Remembrance repaired.

In total the project cost £2.9 million: some £1.8 million for the building and just over £1million for works to the paths and driveway.

The cost has been part-funded from reserves, with the balance met by a 30-year loan for the chapel and a 20-year loan for upgrading the drive, paths, walls and railings.