NELC facing prospect of £5-million bill because gas cremators at Grimsby will soon need to be replaced

                                                   

Grimsby Crematorium

THE two gas-powered cremators at Grimsby Crematorium could soon be replaced with electric alternatives.

According to a report to North East Lincolnshire councillors, the existing gas cremators are both at the end of their mandated lifespan despite recent re-lining. 

Maintenance issues and costs are increasing, and failure of one or both units would cause significant service disruption, including:  

• Families having to travel to crematoria elsewhere.  

• Loss of income for North East Lincolnshire Council.  

• Reputational damage.  

Advantages of electric cremators are that they are more efficient than gas which would provide significant longer term operating savings;  

In addition, they could be installed while the gas ones are kept functioning.

On the downside, works would be required to the crematorium to accommodate the electric replacements.

The report notes that other local authorities, such as  East Cambridgeshire, Worcester and Rushcliffe have installed electric cremators. 

It states: "The Grimsby Crematorium team have visited the Rushcliffe facility to see how it operates and are satisfied electric cremators could be incorporated in Grimsby."

The capital cost of installing electric cremators is put at £4.7-million, but there could be a carbon-reduction grant of £1.5-million.

Replacing the current gas cremators with new gas ones would cost .£5.7-million but with no prospect of a grant.

The report concludes: "Replacing  aging cremators with low-carbon alternative systems instead of like-for-like fossil fuel reliant systems would contribute to the council’s environmental priority of working towards a low carbon North East Lincolnshire that is prepared for and resilient to the impacts of climate change."