swimming pool
© unknownA British local council is planning to use excess energy from a crematorium incinerator to heat one of its swimming pools, it emerged Tuesday, but critics slammed the proposals as "sick"
A British local council is planning to use excess energy from a crematorium incinerator to heat one of its swimming pools, it emerged Tuesday, but critics slammed the proposals as "sick".

The council in Redditch, a town near Birmingham in central England, said the measure would help reduce its carbon footprint.

"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," a spokesman said.

"The heat would otherwise be exhausted into the atmosphere."

However, the Unison trade union has condemned the plans, which are due to be discussed at a full meeting of the council on February 7.

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

"I call on Redditch Borough Council to apologise to local residents for the insulting and insensitive proposals."

McKenzie said the move was a sign of the "desperate policies" being pursued by local authorities as they try to deal with funding cuts imposed by Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron's coalition government.

If approved, the heating scheme will be the first of its kind in Britain.