waste not ??

[ladypeartree]

'Crematorium to heat pool' defended

24 January 2011 06:11pm

A council has defended "insulting and insensitive" plans to heat a swimming pool with a crematorium incinerator.

Redditch Borough Council in Worcestershire has drawn up proposals to use excess heat generated by the incinerator at the town's crematorium to warm the water for swimmers at the nearby Abbey Stadium Sports Centre.

A spokesman for the Conservative-run authority said: "Redditch Borough Council, with a commitment to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, is considering proposals to re-use energy at its crematorium to heat a nearby leisure centre. The heat would otherwise be exhausted into the atmosphere."

The plans, which will be discussed at a full council meeting on February 7, have been branded "sick" by opponents.

Roger McKenzie, Unison West Midlands regional secretary, said: "These proposals by Redditch Borough Council are sick and an insult to local residents.

"I call on Redditch Borough Council to apologise to local residents for the insulting and insensitive proposals, and to work with Unison to fight for a fairer budget settlement from the Conservative-led Government."

He added: "It goes to show yet again that the Conservatives know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Unfortunately, local authorities are increasingly pursuing desperate polices in a reaction to the unprecedented spending cuts imposed from Whitehall.

"This just shows that the Government's slashing of funding is impacting on the ability of local authorities to provide our services."

The council spokesman added: "Redditch Borough Council recognises this is a sensitive proposal and is therefore keen to ensure everyone interested fully understands the details."

He said a series of "detailed briefings" with the press and public, including local funeral directors and faith groups, would be held on Thursday.

[ladypeartree]

Ok tried to add a poll to see how everyone felt but I just couldnt do it

[mizzdy]

I'm not sure how I feel about that, I mean on one hand its a great renewable source of energy, on the other hmm thats tough to answer. Its just the heat off the furnance that is being used yet the idea that heat may have come because of a loved one. wow thats just a tough thing to answer. My husband on the other hand says its a good source of energy and well why not use it as long as its just heat coming through. Looking forward to others giving their opinions.

[MorningGlory]

It's just heat produced by burning and it certainly doesn't hurt the dearly departed. It IS insensitive to the families of those that have passed on though and their feelings should be respected before worrying about cost savings. Cut somewhere else; we are all having to do it these days.

[Guest man]

Redditch Borough Council needs to say, "Ok, never mind. It was just a thought".

If people are getting offended, why even bother? It's just a swimming pool.

[Botz]

I guess further savings could be made by using the smoke to cure bacon, and the ashes to organically fertilize farmers fields ...or perhaps all the heat generated from the coucils proposals could help warm the local pool more effectively.

[mizzdy]

I guess further savings could be made by using the smoke to cure bacon, and the ashes to organically fertilize farmers fields ...or perhaps all the heat generated from the coucils proposals could help warm the local pool more effectively.

I think we all often think about all that hot air coming out of our govt...

[nebula]

Logically, it works.

Emotionally, forget it.

[ladypeartree]

Ok sooooooo what is with all the "emotions" ... you bury a body of a loved one and you dont worry about it becoming " fertilizer" for the ground.... If you cremate a body what do you do with the ashes ??? either put them in a pot and "display " it or scatter them so that the wind blows them anywhere it wants to

I must be missing something here because it is NOT as if they are suggesting that they put the bodies into a fire to warm the water...the bodies are going to be cremated ... the heat is normally just blown into the air so what on earth is the problem with using the wasted heat to benifit the living ??? it is NOT going to affect the person who is being cremated so PLEASE tell me what the difference is between blowing the heat into the atmosphere and blowing it into a heating system

[georgedrw81]

Anyone who has been in a council building have realised that they have entered a place that is extremely hot. A person could be in swimwear and still feel hot. If they turned down the heat a bit or channeled that heat into the pool or to council homes then would really save. The ones that came up with such idea were probably sweating in the room they were in.

Blessings