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Cemetery and Crematorium Regulations - Section A: General
Cemetery and Crematorium Regulations - Section A: General
1. Cemeteries and Remembrance Chapel Opening Times
The cemeteries and remembrance chapel are open to the public at the following times:
| Monday to Friday | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| January, November and December | 9.00 am | 4.00 pm |
| February and October | 9.00 am | 5.00 pm |
| March, April and September | 9.00 am | 6.00 pm |
| May, June, July and August | 9.00 am | 7.00 pm |
| Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| January, November and December | 10.00 am | 4.00 pm |
| All other months | 10.00 am | 5.00 pm |
2. Children
Children under the age of 16 are not permitted to enter the grounds unless accompanied by a responsible adult.
3. Dogs
Dogs will not be permitted in the grounds except in the case of guide dogs for people with impaired vision or hearing.
4. Cyclists
Cyclists shall ride to the left of carriageways and in single file. Bicycles shall not be ridden on footpaths, grass areas or planted areas. Bicycles must not be placed against memorials, benches, or trees and shrubs and if laid on the ground must not to cause an obstruction. The Council will not accept responsibility for loss of or from or damage to any bicycle brought into the cemeteries and crematorium, howsoever caused.
5. Drivers
Drivers shall not exceed the speed limit of 5 mph. Except with the permission of the Bereavement Services Manager, vehicles may only be driven on the main carriageways and must not be driven on footpaths, grass areas or planted areas. All vehicles must be neatly parked so as not to cause obstruction. The Council will not accept responsibility for loss of or from or damage to any vehicle brought into the cemeteries and crematorium, howsoever caused.
6. Wreaths, Flowers, Plants etc
The Council shall not be held responsible for the safe keeping of any wreaths, flowers, plants or any other objects placed in the cemeteries and crematorium nor for any damage caused to memorials or monuments by winds, storms, inclement weather, vandalism or other factors outside of their control.
7. Lawful Action
The Bereavement Services Manager is empowered to take such lawful action as he/she may consider appropriate against any person who may:
- Commit any nuisance,
- Wilfully interfere with any burial/cremation that is taking place,
- Wilfully interfere with any grave, memorial, plants, flowers or other such objects.
(Article 18(1) Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977)
8. Access Outside Opening Hours
No person who is not an employee of the Council or who has not been so authorised by or on behalf of the Council shall enter or remain in the cemeteries or crematorium when they are closed to the public.
(Article 18(2) Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977)
9. Commercial Photography
The taking of commercial photographs and filming is not permitted in the cemeteries and crematorium except with the prior approval and permission of the Council, in writing and subject to the receipt of the appropriate fee.
10. Cemetery and Crematorium Closure
The Council reserves the right to close the cemeteries and crematorium on any day should circumstances so warrant.
11. Removal of Trees, Shrubs and Plants
The Council reserves the right to remove any tree, shrub or other plant from a grave when it deems such removal to be necessary.
12. Fencing and Edging Stones
The placing of metal, plastic or wooden fences or edging stones around a grave is not permitted and may be removed without prior notice.
13. Wooden Crosses
Wooden crosses may be erected as a memorial subject to a maximum height of 91 cm's [3 feet]. The Council reserves the right to remove any wooden cross should it become dilapidated.
14. Planting within Law Sections
No planting is permitted on graves within the lawn sections. After interment in a lawn section the soil will be allowed to settle naturally over the following months. Subsidence will be rectified by adding soil periodically until settlement ceases. When conditions permit the Council will turf or seed the area of the grave and carry out subsequent maintenance. Memorials must be NAMM fixed on the concrete bearer provided where applicable. In all other cases a NAMM approved 'ground anchor' system must be used of a type that is suitable and proper for the type of memorial to be erected.
15. Planting within Traditional Sections
Purchasers of graves in traditional sections of the cemetery will be permitted to plant the area of the grave purchased and will be responsible for the upkeep. No person will be permitted to cultivate any ground that is outside the boundary of his or her particular grave space. Any plants or other objects placed outside of the area of the grave will be removed without notice.
16. Removal of Objects
The Council reserves the right to remove from any grave without notice any jars, vases, fencing or any other object considered to be a safety hazard or to impede access or maintenance.
17. Maintenance Responsibility
The planting and maintenance of graves and safe maintenance and repair of memorials, including repairs necessary due to vandalism, is the responsibility of the registered grave owner.
18. Health and Safety
The Council will take such action as necessary to render safe any memorial which, in its opinion, is a danger to health and safety and may recover any costs so incurred from the owner of the burial rights.
19. Compliance with Regulations
All persons visiting the cemeteries and crematorium shall conform in all respects with the Regulations and shall be subject to the requirements of the Bereavement Services Manager or his/her Deputy. Cemetery employees have power to exclude any member of the public where they consider it necessary in order to maintain satisfactory conditions or secure compliance with the Regulations.
20. Remembrance Chapel Memorials
Only memorials supplied by the Council will be permitted in the Remembrance Chapel. Artificial flowers are not permitted and may be removed without notice.
21. Gate Closures
At the discretion of the Bereavement Services Manager or his authorised Deputy, the gates to Kingston Cemetery from Dawson Road and the Hawks Road end of Bonner Hill Road may be closed for access at times when the cemetery is open to the public.
22. Council's Ruling on these Regulations
The Council’s ruling on these Regulations shall be final and the Council reserves the right to make alterations or additions thereto.
Revised August 2007