RULES TO BE APPLIED TO THE NEW WROSLYN ROAD CEMETERY WHEN OPEN FOR BURIAL

(A) BURIAL RULES

1.Introduction
These rules and regulations are made by the Parish Council under paragraph 24 of schedule 26 to the Local Government Act 1972 and paragraph 3(1) of The Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977 for the proper management, regulation and control of the cemetery.  In order that the cemetery shall be maintained to a high standard, the co-operation of all concerned in carrying them out is requested.

2.Registrar
The Cemetery Registrar shall be the Clerk of the Council or an approved officer of the Council.

3.Plans
Plans and records showing the situation of all graves in the cemetery are kept by the Registrar.

4.Applications and Fees
All applications must be made on the forms provided.  Cheques should be made payable to ‘Freeland Parish Council’.

5.Notice
Notice of interment must be made at least two clear working days prior to any interment in any grave.

6.Grave Preparation
The applicant (or his agent) is responsible for the preparation and filling of the grave.  The surface of the grave shall be left level with the original grass turf reinstated.

7.Hours of Interment
The prescribed hours of interment are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday from 1 April to 30 September and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday from 1 October to 31 March.

8.Disposal Certificate
The relevant certificate for burial, coroner’s order for burial, certificate for disposal (Still birth) or certificate for burial of ashes must be delivered to the Registrar on or before the day of interment.  No burials shall take place without the appropriate certificate for disposal.

9.Dimension of Graves
Each grave shall be 2.4 m x 1.2 m (c.8’ x 4’).  The maximum depth of each grave shall be 2.1 m (c.7’).  The minimum depth of any grave shall be 0.9 m (c.3’).  A strip of undisturbed land 0.6 m (c.2’) wide shall be left between each grave.  Each grave shall be used in sequence.

10.Planting
As the cemetery is maintained as a lawn cemetery, the planting of flowers, shrubs or trees on graves is prohibited.  Early Spring bulbs may be planted on a grave but bulb growth may be cut when the grass cutting season commences.

11.Purchase of Grave Spaces
11(a)Any person may purchase the exclusive right of burial in a grave space for a period of 50 years.  On purchase, a Grant Certificate will be issued by the Parish Council to the applicant.  The selection of spaces is prohibited.  Grave spaces are to be excavated in rotation and purchased at the time of the first interment.  The Council reserves the right to authorise a second interment from an unrelated party in a grave already used for one interment when the exclusive right has not been purchased.  No memorial may be erected on a grave where the exclusive rights have not been purchased.

11(b)In exceptional circumstances the close relatives or civil partners may apply to the Parish Council to purchase the exclusive burial rights in the adjoining burial plot at the time of the first interment.   The determination of exceptional circumstances and who is a close relative or civil partner will be at the discretion of the Parish Council whose decision will be final.  In such cases the Parish discount on fees will not apply.

12.Purchase of Unpurchased Graves
Where a grave space has not been purchased, the next of kin or legal representative of the first person to have been buried therein may purchase the exclusive right of burial.

13.Transfers
No transfer of the ownership or an exclusive right of burial, otherwise than by death or inheritance, shall be made without the prior consent in writing of the Parish Council.

14.Opening of Graves
No grave in which the exclusive right of burial has been purchased shall be opened for burial without production of the Grant Certificate or the written consent of the owner or his or her legal representatives.

15.Cremated Remains
Graves for the interment of ashes shall be 1.2 m x 1.2 m (c. 4’ x 4’).  The burial or scattering of cremated human remains in any grave for which the exclusive right of burial has not been purchased is prohibited.  Caskets containing cremated human remains may be buried in purchased graves, with the consent of the owner of the burial rights, and on receipt of a completed notice of interment form, together with the appropriate fees.  Any such grave must contain at least one burial of a coffin.  Where the purchased grave is of sufficient depth and will be required at a future date for the burial of a second coffin, the casket of ashes must be buried in the wall of the grave, so as to permit the free passage of any coffin.  The removal of cremated remains (once buried) for whatever purpose requires an Exhumation Licence from Her Majesty’s Home Office.

16.Unpurchased (Public) Graves
Unpurchased graves may be used for further interments by the Parish Council at any time.

17.Soliciting Orders
No person shall distribute tracts, business cards, or other advertisements or solicit orders within the cemetery.

18.Smoking
Smoking is not permitted within the vicinity of a funeral ceremony.

19.Improper Behaviour
The Parish Council or any person with its authority may at any time exclude from the cemetery any person who conducts himself in a noisy, disorderly or unseemly manner or intoxicated or uses improper language or trespasses upon or refuses to leave any portion of the Cemetery when asked to do so.

20.Dogs
Dogs are only permitted within the Cemetery when under strict control and owners must remove any dog waste from the Cemetery.

21.Maintenance Work
The Council reserves the right to undertake any such work that it considers necessary for the proper maintenance of the cemetery.

22.Gratuities
The employees of the Parish Council are not permitted to receive gratuities or commissions.

(B) MEMORIAL RULES – The placing of memorials, subject to prior approval of each by the Council, is hereby sanctioned as follows:

(a)Applications must be made to the Registrar for prior approval for all memorials proposed to be placed, erected or renewed and for additional inscriptions.
(b)Memorials shall not be placed or erected on any grave where the exclusive right of burial has not been purchased.

(c)The Monumental mason’s name may be cut or attached to the rear side of any memorial but there must be no other form of advertisement.  The mason’s nameplate must not exceed 100 mm x 50 mm (4” x 2”) and must not be higher than 100 mm (4”) from the base.
(d)The Funeral Director or Applicant shall be responsible for arranging for the removal of any memorial necessitated by an interment and for its re-erection.

(e)All memorials must be placed or erected at the head of the grave in line with other memorials in that section.

(f)The provision and erection of kerbstones is prohibited.

(g)Tiles, articles of pottery, glass, metal ware, spiked floral containers or railings, metal kerbing and artificial wreaths covered with glass or transparent materials susceptible to breakage are prohibited.

(h)All memorials must be kept in repair by the owner and, if not kept in repair or be potentially dangerous, may be removed by the Council at its discretion.  The Council cannot accept any responsibility for re-erecting fallen memorials nor for any damage that may occur to any memorial within the cemetery.

(i)Headstones on a full grave may be up to 800 mm (c.2’8”) in overall height and a maximum of 600 mm (c.2’) width, subject to the overall dimensions not exceeding 0.5 sq.m. (c.5 sq.ft.).  The foundation slab may not exceed 1 m. by 0.5 m.  A flat tablet may not exceed 150 mm thickness and surface dimensions of  600 mm by 600 mm.
(j)All memorials must be made of natural stone.  Stones traditionally used in local buildings, or stones closely similar to them in colour and texture are to be preferred but black, blue, grey or red igneous rock, marble or synthetic stone are also permitted.

(k)Applications for approval of memorials, including the shape of lettering, layout and spacing should be submitted to the cemetery Registrar.