THE FUTURE of Enfield Crematorium has been thrown into doubt because fewer people are dying.

Healthy living is one of the reasons why Haringey Council is set to consider a report on the future of the facility.

In proposals which were due to be considered by the council last month, but are now delayed until November, the council could sell off Enfield Cremetorium and cemetery.

The crematorium needs a minimum capital investment of £6.6m to sustain its ability to provide cremation and burial services that return a revenue surplus to the council.

The report states: "The recent trend in both burials and cremations is down, whilst memorials income is relatively stable.

"The key reasons for this downturn are: increased life expectancy and reduced death rate; reduced supply and choice of burial provision; crematorium "fitness for purpose" and ability to meet today's customer expectations, together with the imminent challenge and requirement to meet new environmental legislation to tackle mercury emissions from crematoria."

To remain viable the report conlcudes that a cash injection of between £6.6million and ££13.4 million is needed. The report due to go before the council was pulled at the last minute to allow more options to be considered.

The council has been carrying out studies to determine the future of the crematorium and the borough's two cemeteries - Wood Green Cemetery in Wolves Lane and Tottenham Cemetery in White Hart Lane.

Councillor Dilek Dogus, cabinet member for community services, said: "It is a very important issue and we want to make sure we have all the options available for the committee to make the right decision."

The report also reveals there were 2,070 cremations carried out during the financial year 2009-10, against a target set of 2,260. There has been a downward trend in cremations in recent years, it states, from over 3,000 in 1996.

The report continues: "This is partly due to a reduction in the national and local death rates as well as a demographic trend towards a younger population as older residents move from urban to more rural locations.

The report recommended the council should stop providing services from Enfield Crematorium and that the site should be disposed of or run by an external company.

However, more options are likely to be put before the council when the report is rewritten and presented to the cabinet in November.