The existing cremator is a J G Shelton Diamond 2000EF model which is no longer in production. The original manufacturer went into liquidation in the spring of 2014 meaning spare parts are harder to source.The local cremator is now at an increased risk of prolonged breakdowns due to the "expensive and lengthy manufacture of special spare parts or even permanent breakdown".

It is now likely it will be replaced and will be housed in a new extended facility at Le Foulon. 

Pictured: A cremator (image from global-freight.co.uk) similar to the one used in Guernsey

David Parish, General Manager for States' Property Services which manages places like Le Foulon crematorium, said the decision was also taken to replace the existing facility "with two bariatric capable cremators to provide additional resilience and future proof the replacement process".

Mr Parish said: “Very early in this project it became obvious that the proposed equipment replacement was not as simple as removing the existing cremator equipment and installing new equipment in the same position. Even a single new cremator will not fit in the existing position with no scope for any abatement. Consideration has been given to the likely size of the new equipment and the buildings to house it, which will facilitate equipment replacement in the future with the minimum of service disruption and minimal builders work. The operation and location of the cremation service has also been considered, as has accessibility".

He said the project team undertook an island wide review of potential alternative sites, both on States owned and privately owned land, for a replacement facility. Nearly 100 locations were identified, with a shortlist of 36 then being selected for more detailed evaluation. This includes a number of options at the existing Foulon site.

However, Mr Parish said any alternative site would require the construction of existing facilities at Le Foulon, so construction costs are significantly greater and private sites have the added cost of acquisition: "so it is not unsurprising that the best value option proposed for the replacement cremator is an extension to the Foulon".

That work will only happen subject to the necessary internal business case approvals, which will happen when a policy letter submitted to the States can be debated later in 2018.