Cemetery Regulations
UPDATED OCTOBER 2021
The Parish Council (the Council) is empowered by The Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977 to provide rules it may consider necessary or desirable for the proper management, regulation and control of the cemetery, under the Health & Safety Regulation, whilst also promoting harmony and beauty. Your co-operation, therefore, in observing these regulations would be appreciated. The following are the Regulations for the Management of the Cemetery of the Parish of Friskney adopted at the meeting of the Parish Council on 13th October 2021.
1. All fees and charges are to be paid to the Parish Clerk (the Clerk). Consent of the Clerk is to be obtained before the ground is opened. A table of fees and charges set by the Council and books of accounts shall be maintained by the clerk. The scale of the fees shall be revised by the Council from time to time as it considers necessary.
2. Each grave space shall be identified by row and number which shall tally with the records and plans maintained by the Clerk which shall be open to public scrutiny in normal business hours on reasonable notice being given.
3. The grant of a Right of Burial in a grave, or ashes plot, will be sold by the Council in the order of plot availability. The Council reserves the right to allocate the next available plot for burial or a cremation.
4. No vaulted graves will be allowed.
5. Family plots of 2 adjacent spaces may be reserved for an initial period of 25 years on payment of the appropriate fee.
6. Before the erection of any headstone, memorial or tablet on a grave space, details of the proposals shall be submitted to the Clerk for approval (this is mostly undertaken by the Stone Mason). Tablets in the Garden of Rest should face the road. Any dispute to be decided by the Council in its next ordinary meeting which decision shall be final and binding.
7.The area of the grave should be made level with the surrounding ground, the headstone being erected at the head of the grave not intruding more than 2 feet along the length of the grave. If the grave has not been levelled after a 2 year period, this will be done by the Council.
8. If a headstone, memorial or tablet has not been erected on any plot 2 years after interment, the Council will mark the plot accordingly for identification purposes.
9. No kerb, palisade or railing shall be erected on any grave or ashes plot.
10. No plants, flowers, shrubs or other vegetation shall be planted on the grave which will interfere with the graveyard grass cutting and maintenance. The Council has the right to dig up and remove any trees, shrubs, plants or flowers that are left on the grass and to re-level and seed the area once settlement of the grave has occurred.
11. Plant pots, baskets & ornaments can only be placed for a short period when there is an Anniversary. However, these must be removed by relatives once the plants are no longer in bloom. Any such items can get blown around the cemetery in windy weather and in this case the Caretaker will dispose of them as they have no idea which grave they are from.
12. Christmas wreaths/sprays MUST be removed by the end of February.
13. Lighting and glass objects of any description are not allowed on any grave or ashes plot. Broken glass is a hazard to the Caretaker and all visitors.
14. GARDEN OF REST - To protect the space of each individual plot and tablet, no fencing around the tablet or planting of flowers are allowed. One ornament can be placed on the tablet but not on the surrounding gravel as such items will be removed.
15. Any person found conducting themselves in a disorderly manner shall be forthwith expelled from the cemetery.
16. Any matter not provided for in these Regulations which cannot be settled by reference to The Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977 and its Schedules or any successor Order to the said Order shall be decided by the Council in its next ordinary meeting which decision shall be final and binding.
17. ASSISTANCE DOGS ONLY ARE ALLOWED IN THE CEMETERY.
18. The Council reserve the right to remove any items they deem unsuitable for the Cemetery without notice.