A third crematorium in Oxfordshire is planned for Garford - Crematorium.eu News about crematoria in Europe - www.crematorium.eu informs about crematoria in Europe- Krematorium.eu- crematorio.eu, find a crematorium

A plan for Oxfordshire’s third crematorium has been unveiled.

A new £3.5m crematorium at Garford, near Abingdon, could save mourners journeys to Oxford, Banbury, Thatcham, West Berkshire or Swindon.

The planned 296sqm building, on the A338 Wantage Road, would have landscaped gardens of remembrance and land for burials.

Memoria, based at Stratton Audley, said the facility would serve a population of 190,000.

Business development director Jamieson Hodgson said: “There is definitely a massive demand for the crematorium in the area. We have been looking at the area for two or three years. We are confident it is the right place for a new crematorium.”

He added: “It is a very stressful and unhappy time for any family to have to go through and long journeys just add to the stress of the occasion.”

He said the company did not know how many burial plots the site would accommodate.

A planning application has been submitted to Vale of White Horse District Council.

Funeral director Ben Tonks, of Tonks Brothers, in Ock Street, Abingdon, welcomed the plans.

He said: “Oxford Crematorium has got a bit of a monopoly and has had it for a long time. It will be a good thing for everyone to have more competition.”

He added: “It will give Abingdon residents more choice.”

Garford’s district councillor, Matthew Barber, said: “It could be quite a good thing for the district because there is not that sort of facility around here.”

Abingdon Town Council has put aside £150,412 for a new cemetery.

Council leader Sandy Lovatt said the crematorium plan would not change the plans for the new site, which has yet to be named by the council. He said: ”Some people do want to be buried in Abingdon and that is a service we need to provide.”