A MAJOR revamp of Worcester's crematorium has secured approval - with council chiefs today pledging to make it a site to be proud of.

Up to £300,000 of taxpayers' money will be sunk into transforming the Astwood Road building after Worcester City Council's planning committee gave it the nod this afternoon.

The changes will mean a redesigned chapel, new reception, waiting room and a cosmetic spruce up of the building and entrance to bring it into the 21st century.

We can reveal how the work is the first serious change to the facility this century and will take place during July, August and September.

It comes as Councillor Andy Roberts, the cabinet member for cleaner and greener, told your Worcester News the site should be compared to the likes of the Guildhall in terms of importance.

After the meeting he said: "We started off with circa £200,000 for these changes but we were concerned it might not go far enough, so we've got latitude to spend up to £300,000."

"It will make a significant difference and make it much better for visitors and the people who work there.

"We look at the Guildhall, but Astwood Road cemetery and crematorium is one of our most important buildings."

The changes include ditching the steps at the back entrance and making it wheelchair friendly, as well as a new covered area so people don't get wet as they leave and brand new toilets.

A bigger and better waiting room will be constructed, while another detailed change will be replacing the fixed, wooden pew seats inside the crematorium with flexible ones that can be moved around, with the person conducting each service located next to the coffin.

Fresh floor covering, lighting, a revamp of the entrance canopy, internal decorations, refurbished woodwork and new outside paving and walkways are also included.

The big investment follows the introduction of a new cutting regime last year after concerns the nearby cemetery grass was out of control.

At today's planning committee, it was asked to approve only the new rear canopy and the glazed waiting room, with the rest of the revamp not requiring any formal vote.

But by giving those two pieces of work the nod, it effectively means the entire project can now be delivered.

It was backed unanimously, with Councillor Pat Agar calling it "a no-brainer".

"It can only improve the facility, people who have to visit the crematorium will really value it," she said.

Officers are currently devising a plan so disruption is kept to a minimum while the work takes place.