A MULTI-million pound regeneration of the town’s crematorium will see mourning relatives have to travel more than 12 miles to cremate their loved ones, it has been revealed.

Slough Crematorium is set to close for five weeks while contractors carry out extensive works to the site in Stoke Road, including a new space where relatives can gather after ceremonies.

Slough Borough Council also revealed that the substantial investment will not go towards any increased security features at the site, which was the scene of a brutal double rape earlier this year.

Instead, the nearest crematorium for Slough residents are 12.6 miles away in Amersham, or 16.6 miles to Wokingham.

A spokesman for Newman and Son Funeral Services, based in the town, said: “Obviously its going to cause disruption for families because they are going to have to travel to crematoriums which are around 14 or 16 miles away.

“Families might have to wait longer for funerals too because people from this area are going to be booking at those other crematoriums.

“I’m not sure if we would charge more to travel the extra distance.”

The regeneration will see the chapel closed for five weeks from October 31 until December 5 and there will be no cremations throughout the redevelopment.

The council confirmed that the £3 million investment will not be used to improve security, however plans are in the pipeline to upgrade the CCTV system.

A spokesman said: “This is a refurbishment of the crematorium chapel – not the cemetery.

“The improvements have been in the planning for at least five years. The project includes – and has always included – improvements to CCTV.”

An internal investigation was launched into ex-offenders working at the site after the horrific attack in May, but the council ruled out cutting its ties with Blue Sky, a council sub-contractor that employs former convicts to work at the site.

One of its members, Christopher Rode, was jailed for life after he admitted the vicious double rape of a Windsor woman, who was visiting her son’s grave at the crematorium before she was violently attacked.

Slough MP Fiona Mactaggart, a patron for Blue Sky, said at the time that cancelling the contract would “leave us all more at risk of crime” when she was quizzed by the Observer.

Councillor Paul Sohal, commissioner for regulation and consumer protection, added: “The chapel has served Slough well over the years but it’s become very dated and is in desperate need of refurbishment and modernisation.

“People use the chapel under sad circumstances and we want to make their visit as comfortable as possible, while ensuring the facility is fit for the 21st century.

“Residents want somewhere comfortable to pay their last respects and that’s what we’re going to provide.

“There are cameras there which were installed when there was an incident in May. After that happened I believe CCTV cameras were installed at the entrance.”