ONE of the district’s existing crematoria could be used for water based cremation services in the future, a meeting has been told.

Both Nab Wood Crematorium and Scholemoor Crematorium are due to shut in the coming years, part of a major shake up of the district’s bereavement services.

They will be replaced by new, more up to date facilities in Heaton and Bierley.

At a meeting of Bradford Council’s Regeneration and Environment Scrutiny Committee this week, members asked what would happen to the two existing crematoria once the new sites open.

They were told that one option could be to use a site for resomation - also known as “water cremation.”

It is seen as a more environmentally friendly alternative to cremation, and involves a water solution being used to break down the body to a liquid.

Resomation services have not yet begun in the UK, although there do take place in some states in the USA.

John Scholefield, Bereavement Manager on the Council raised the possibility of resomation in the District while giving an update on the Council’s Bereavement Strategy.

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The Council first announced plans to replace its existing three crematoria in 2016 as the existing equipment was operating beyond its expected working life.

All three facilities, Nab Wood, Scholemoor and Oakworth, are over 100 years old, and the Council said new abatement equipment, needed to meet recently introduced emission reduction targets, would not fit in the existing buildings.

Work is currently underway to re-build a larger facility at Oakworth.

In September plans to build a new crematorium at Long Lane in Heaton were approved. This facility would replace Nab Wood.

The Council has also submitted a planning application to build a crematorium on Shetcliffe Lane in Bierley, which would replace the facility at Scholemoor.

The Council had said very few sites in the District were suitable for new crematoria - national limits on where crematoria are built mean they cannot be within 200 yards of a residential area.

At the meeting Councillor David Heseltine (Cons, Bingley) said: “This is something Bradford needs to do.

"Once the existing crematoria are non operational what is the plan? Will we keep up the maintenance of these sites? We don’t want derelict chapels.”

Mr Scholefield said: “Nab Wood will remain an operational cemetery as long as we still have grave space. But we don’t want any more buildings on the site. Any use needs to be appropriate.

Scholemoor in particular is a very, very busy and we wouldn’t look to any use that would continue to exacerbate problems there.

“There is the possibility of resomation, a water based process, for the disposal of bodies. It could be that one of the two crematoria would be suitable for that purpose in the future.”

Resomation is the name given to water cremation. Instead of using fire, water cremation combines a water and alkali-based solution and this method speeds up the natural process the body goes through at the end of life.

It leaves a liquid that contains no DNA, which has also been broken down, and bones, which are then reduced to ashes.

People who opt for resomation have a traditional funeral ceremony in the same way they would with flame cremation. The only difference comes at the point after the coffin is committed from view and the body is placed in a water cremator.

Resomation is seen as being the most environmentally friendly end of life option, leaving a carbon footprint over seven times smaller than flame cremation; and over three times smaller than burial.

It is not yet available in the UK, but it is hoped that this may change in the near future. Earlier this year Yorkshire Water issued the UKs first wastewater consent to discharge, which would allow the liquid to be discharged into the sewage system before it is then processed.

Resomation Ltd, based in Stanningley, is one of the main companies that produces equipment for Resomations. Managing Director Howard Pickard, told the Telegraph & Argus: "We have long appreciated the support of Bradford Council. Being a local company we look forward to working with the Council to undertake this green, environmentally sustainable method for local families who wish to express their concerns for the environment."

The company's website explains what happens to the remains after the water cremation, saying: "When the cremation is complete, the water based liquid is removed from the water cremator.

"It is then held in a separate tank where it is assessed before entering the local water treatment system to then return to the water cycle of the rivers and the sea.

"With all end of life options, whether it be vapour in the air from flame cremation or liquid entering the soil from burial, we all return to the water cycle at the end of life.

"Water cremation simply does this in a more responsible and natural way.

"Unlike some liquids from hospitals and funeral embalmers, the water from water cremation is completely safe to enter the water system and contains no DNA, only the constituent elements."