Plans to set up Malta’s first crematorium, which had been shelved following the change in government in 1998, may be revived.

The subject emerged during a meeting between Parliamentary Secretary for Planning Michael Farrugia and Archbishop Paul Cremona.

During the meeting, Mgr Cremona said the Church had no objection for such plans, adding that the decision to opt for cremation rested entirely on the individual.

However, this had to be carried out in conformity with the Church’s doctrine, which said that ashes were to be buried and not kept in urns or scattered.

On his part, the parliamentary secretary said that in 1998, during his term as health minister, the Labour Government had been favourably looking at such plans.

He added that a new planning authority policy on cemeteries was in the pipeline. Over the past years there has been a growing drive to set up a crematorium in Malta.

Currently there are two pending applications. In 2002, the firm Malta Crematorium Company Ltd filed an application to build a crematorium at the Addolorata Cemetery in Paola.

In 2010, Luqa Developments Ltd applied to build a cemetery of 1,000 graves and a cremation facility on Mdina Road in an area between Rabat and Attard.

According to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority’s website, both applications have been sent to a case officer to assess the development proposal in terms of the Structure Plan and other established policies.

Another application was filed in 2005 to construct a crematorium in St Paul’s Bay. The application was turned down by the planning authority to the relief of residents, who strongly objected to it.