Construction begins at the site for West Herts Crematorium

A ground breaking ceremony was held at the site of the new West Herts Crematorium on Tuesday 1st March.

Members of the West Herts Crematorium Joint Committee (WHCJC) and Council Leaders, all representing the five local authorities* involved in delivering the project attended.

This new facility will be a sister-site to the current West Herts Crematorium in Garston, Watford and is being developed to provide additional capacity in the West Hertfordshire region.

Featuring a remembrance chapel that sits within extensive landscaped grounds on the land adjacent to the new Poppy Fields cemetery at Bedmond Road by Bunkers Park, the new crematorium in the area will reduce the time that families have to wait to schedule a funeral for a loved-one. It will also enhance the quality of service provided to bereaved families by increasing service times from 40 to 60 minutes so there is more time for individual ceremonies.

Deputy Mayor of Watford and member of WHCJC, Aga Dychton who attended the ceremony said “It was essential to build a new crematorium, which focussed on easing the pain to the bereaved families. With compassion and understanding, we recognise how important taking into account religious beliefs and personal feelings and the way they will expressed in the last goodbye. This facility will be a welcome addition to our community and will allow us to provide high-quality service to those who want to say goodbye to their loved ones in a beautiful and tranquil place.”

West Herts Crematorium Joint Committee, which includes representatives from all of the local councils in the area, and oversees the management and the operation of the existing crematorium in Garston will also manage the new facility. It will operate on the same basis as the existing crematorium with services running Monday to Friday and general enquiries on Saturdays.

Construction is expected to be completed by Feb/March 2023.

*Watford, Three Rivers, St Albans, Hertsmere and Dacorum councils.