A £1.4million project to replace cremation facilities at Chelmsford has been downgraded.
The cost was agreed in October 2008 and would have seen the three existing cremators at Chelmsford Crematorium replaced along with equipment to meet emission standards that come into effect in 2013.
Because of the falling death rate and the new crematorium at Braintree, the council says only two are now needed.
Ian Grundy, cabinet member for safer communities, told the cabinet meeting last Tuesday that demand was falling.
He said: “It is quite clear we will save a lot of money by only going for two. We can deal with around 3,000 cremations a year – currently we are doing about 2,000.”
Mr Grundy said he could not reveal the savings to be made because of the tendering process.
The meeting also heard the savings could be directed towards extending the south chapel at the crematorium to accommodate more mourners, as there had been occasions when there was not enough seating to cater for congregations.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here