£12.9m crematorium approved on casting vote in East Cambridgeshire amid claims it would be ‘grotesque waste of money’
A new £12.9million crematorium in East Cambridgeshire will be a “grotesque waste of money”, it has been claimed.
Opposition councillors on East Cambridgeshire District Council argued the bereavement centre in Mepal would be a “white elephant”.
But the authority’s Conservative leadership said it would offer “more than just a crematorium” and would be a place where people could say goodbye to their loved ones in a “beautiful setting.”
The council agreed last Thursday (22 May) to progress the project at the former Mepal outdoor centre, with a target opening date of summer 2026.
Councillors agreed to invest £9.06million of developer contributions from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) into the project last year, with a further £4.76million requested this month.
Council leader Cllr Anna Bailey (Con, Downham) said with a contractor found, the actual cost was known for the first time and was comparable to other crematoriums. She noted that the fixed price contract offered high value for money.
The crematorium is due to generate income for the council in its second year to help fund other services.
The spending would not “deprive” the area of other projects, she claimed, noting that the authority had completed many community schemes, such as footbridges, sport facilities and cycleways.
“This project is just about so much more than just the crematorium,” she said. “It is about securing, protecting and enhancing a beautiful and much-loved and special site for the community now and into the future.
“The site is absolutely unique. It is a designated wildlife site with nationally important species using it as their home.
“We have been working with the Wildlife Trust, who are really pleased with the management plans we have developed.
“It is not just an eco crematorium, it is also about natural burials, the pet cemetery area, woodland walking and a lakeside setting.
“The residents will be able to enjoy the site for walking, bird watching, and fishing.”
The number of services held each day would be limited to give people time to say goodbye to their loved ones.
Cllr Bailey said: “There will be a maximum of two services per day and they can use the function room to have a get together afterwards, without having to rush off before the next service arrives.
“They will be able to return to the site to pause and reflect and remember their loved ones into the future and I really hope and believe they will do that.”
However, opposition councillors argued people in the area did not want the crematorium and called it a “waste of money”.
Cllr Mark Inskip (Lib Dem, Sutton) highlighted that a consultation “showed a massive 85.4 per cent of people opposed the plans”.
He said the total cost had “soared” - and that the money should be spent on improving local infrastructure and amenities.
Cllr Inskip said: “Do councillors opposite really believe that local residents are demanding a crematorium in preference to better health facilities, school building improvements, footpaths and cycleways, better play areas and improved leisure facilities?
“Of course we all know it isn’t true and yet councillors opposite still continue to push through this vanity project.”
Cllr Inskip also questioned the “business sense” of the project, noting there were multiple crematoriums in the county, including one in March, “just 12 minutes drive from the Mepal site”.
He argued there was an “excess of crematorium capacity”, which would drive down prices and income.
Cllr John Trapp (Lib Dem, Bottisham) was willing to bet £100 the crematorium would not make a profit in the first five years.
Cllr Lorna Dupré (Lib Dem, Sutton) said it was a “white elephant vanity project and it needs to stop”.
She said the cost had “ballooned” and that it was a “grotesque waste of that money”.
Cllr Dupré argued the site in Melpal was the “furthest you can get in East Cambridgeshire for most of the district”, while being the “nearest you can get to the competing crematorium”, meaning it would not be the “money spinner” the authority hoped.
But Cllr Keith Horgan (Con, Soham North) said he had gone through the business case in “forensic” detail and said it did “stack up”.
He said: “If it is a good investment for this council, it is a good investment for residents as well in my opinion.”
Cllr Bill Hunt (Con, Stretham) noted that such infrastructure was needed as new homes were built and the population grew.
Fourteen councillors voted to move forward with 14 councillors against.
The council chair had the casting vote and voted in favour, meaning the plans will move forward.