Cemeteries regulations - 7. Cemetery sections
7.1. Lawn and Cremated Remains Sections
7.1.1. Lawn sections and cremated remains sections in the Council’s Cemeteries are modelled on the Commonwealth War Graves.
7.1.2. Provision is made for a single headstone located in either a continuous soil border or a soil border containing each individual headstone. The soil border shall extend no more than 45cm from the front of the headstone.
7.1.3. All newly opened graves within the lawn and cremated remains section shall be turfed or seeded at an appropriate time. In the lawn section Exclusive Right of Burial owners are permitted to plant seasonal plants within the grave space up until the grave is turfed or seeded.
7.1.4. Exclusive Right of Burial owners shall be notified one month before grave turfing or seeding is due to commence. Exclusive Right of Burial owners are responsible for clearing the grave space of all plants and adornments to enable turfing or seeding. The Authorised Officer shall arrange for graves to be cleared and adornments disposed of in situations where the owner has not done so. Following the turfing or seeding of graves any further adornments or plants, unless within the 45cm soil border, shall be removed without notice.
7.1.5. Any planting within the 45cm soil border shall be contained to prevent root growth and not exceed 75cm in height. Any planting which fails to meet these regulations and which in the Authorised Officer’s judgement has become unkempt or overgrown shall be removed without notice. Any other memorabilia are not permitted. Planting shall need to be removed for re-opening or re-turfing the grave ahead of any future burial at the cost of the owner.
7.1.6. Tree planting is not permitted.
7.1.7. The Authorised Officer shall have the power to remove any unauthorised memorabilia which they may deem objectionable, against the regulations and/or which may have fallen into disrepair or decay.
7.1.8. The Council shall not be responsible for any damage caused to memorials by vandalism, gales, ordinary wear and tear, or any other circumstances beyond its control.
7.2. Traditional Grave Sections
7.2.1. Traditional Graves can include a wide range of memorial types and are typically in older Cemeteries and Churchyards.
7.2.2. Provision is made for the Exclusive Right of Burial owner to place a memorial and/or kerbset/border stone/flat stone within the confines of the grave. Kerbsets shall be made of natural stone, concrete or other hardened material (subject to the approval of the Authorised Officer). Timber or plastic kerbsets are not permitted. Timber, metal or plastic lawn edging, or fencing are not permitted. The grave owner is responsible for the maintenance within the kerbset area which may be planted.
7.2.3. Flowers, shrubs and plants may be planted within the kerbset and shall not exceed 75cm in height. Planting shall be kept within the confines of the grave space and be contained to restrict root growth. Any planting which fails to meet these conditions and which in the Authorised Officer’s judgement has become unkempt or overgrown shall be removed without notice. The Kerbset and planting shall need to be removed for re-opening the grave ahead of any future burial. The costs for reinstatement shall need to be met by the Exclusive Right of Burial owner.
7.2.4. Tree planting is not permitted.
7.2.5. The Authorised Officer shall have the power to remove any unauthorised memorabilia which they may deem objectionable, against the regulations and/or which may have fallen into disrepair or decay.
7.2.6. The Council shall not be responsible for any damage caused in the Cemeteries by vandalism, gales, ordinary wear and tear, or any other circumstance beyond their control.
7.3. Garden of Remembrance
7.3.1. The Garden of Remembrance offers an alternative to the purchase of a grave space. It offers the opportunity to have cremated remains either interred or scattered at a landscaped garden in one of the Cemeteries without the need to purchase the Exclusive Right of Burial.
7.3.2. Burial plots are allocated and numbered sequentially on a map/plan. No planting, memorabilia or adornment shall be permitted in Garden of Remembrance. Any planting, memorabilia or adornment shall be removed by the Authorised Officer without notice.
7.3.3. Provision is made for an inscription on the Wall of Remembrance nearby for an additional fee following the completion of the relevant application form. The Council shall appoint a suitably qualified Monumental Mason to undertake all Inscriptions at all Cemeteries where there is a Wall of Remembrance. All inscriptions are to be hand cut only, sandblasting or other mechanical means to inscribe are not permitted.