Crematorium approved for Moira

A NEW crematorium has been given the green light for Moira.

Northern Ireland currently only has one crematorium at Roselawn, but a second such facility, which will also include up to 9,000 burial plots has been earmarked for the Lisburn Road in Moira.

The development, which will include a crematorium, burial plots, memorial gardens and landscaped parkland, will be constructed close to the M1.

Environment Minister Alex Attwood said he had given careful consideration to the views of the local community, amongst others. The 30-acre site would be backed by a £4m investment and include access roads and car parking.

Figures from last year indicated around 18% of funerals in Northern Ireland were cremations. The figure for the rest of UK was 74%.

Because of a lack of crematoriums last year some families in Northern Ireland had to wait eight days for such funerals.