Cemetery Regulations

Admission to Cemeteries - Burials - Memorials

1. Introduction

1.1 The Council owns three cemeteries; one in Aldershot and two in Farnborough.

1.2 All queries or comments regarding the cemeteries should be sent to:-

The Crematorium & Cemeteries Manager & Registrar,
The Park Crematorium,
Guildford Road,
ALDERSHOT,
Hampshire, GUI2 4BP.
Tel: 01252 321 653 Fax: 01252 350 758

1.3 These regulations are in addition to the Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977.

2.0 Admission to Cemeteries

2.1 The cemeteries are open for visitors every day of the year during the following times;-

2.2 No dogs are permitted in the cemetery with the exception of Guide Dogs and Hearing Dogs or with the express permission of the Crematorium & Cemeteries Manager & Registrar.

2.3 No vehicles or cars, with the exception of Disabled Badge Holders, are permitted to enter the cemetery unless prior permission has been obtained.

2.4 No games, sports, riding of bicycles, skateboards, roller blades, etc. are allowed within the cemeteries.

2.5 Any person creating a disturbance or nuisance by:

interfering with a burial
interfering with any grave, headstone, memorial or flowers

will be required to leave the cemetery immediately and may be the subject of subsequent legal action.

3.0 Burials

3.1 Burials are permitted Monday to Friday (excluding Good Friday, Christmas Day, Bank Holidays or any other public holiday).

3.2 All burials must take place between:-

9.30 am - 3.30 pm April to September (latest time in Chapel 3.00 pm)
9.30 am - 2.30 pm October to March (latest time in Chapel 2.00 pm)

3.3 A provisional booking must be made through the crematorium & cemeteries office (Tel: 01252 321 653) prior to any burial taking place.

3.4 A minimum of forty-eight hours notice is required before a burial can take place. Receipt of the “Application for Interment” form acts as confirmation of an earlier provisional booking.

3.5 The relevant certificate from the Registrar of Births & Deaths, or the Coroner must be given to the cemetery representative on arrival at the cemetery prior to the burial taking place.

3.6 Exclusive Rights of Burial (ownership) for graves can be purchased for a thirty year period. After the first five years this period is extendable by five year periods to the maximum of thirty years.

3.7 The location of the grave will be decided by the Crematorium & Cemeteries Manager & Registrar.

3.8 All graves will be excavated by the Council’s contractor.

3.9 A coffin, casket or container must be made of a suitable material for burial.

3.10 The exact size of the coffin, casket or container must be given in writing to the cemeteries department as soon as possible after the provisional booking. (The cemeteries department will subsequently add six inches to the length & width to the dig size for the council contractor).

3.11 Services in the cemetery chapel must not exceed thirty minutes unless special arrangements have been made with Crematorium & Cemeteries Manager & Registrar.

3.12 It is the responsibility of the funeral director or person arranging the burial to organise a Minister to officiate.

3.13 All requests for the transfer of “Exclusive Right” must be made in writing to the Crematorium & Cemeteries Manager & Registrar.

4.0 Memorials

4.1 All memorial work carried out in the cemetery must conform with the National Association of Monumental Masons Code of Working Practice 1994.

4.2 All persons erecting a memorial within the three Borough Cemeteries must have public liability insurance (minimum amount five million pounds).

4.3 No memorial may be placed in the cemetery without the approval of’the Crematorium & Cemeteries Manager & Registrar.

4.4 Application forms to place memorials on graves or add inscriptions to existing memorials are available through the crematorium & cemeteries.

4.5 No memorial made of wood, perishable material, concrete or composite material will be permitted, with the exception of wooden crosses which may be placed on a grave for a period of up to six months.

4.6 Vases, jars or bottles made of glass are not permitted within the cemetery and the council reserves the right to remove them without prior notice.

4.7 The grave section and number must be engraved on the reverse of all memorials Trade names of monumental masons or funeral directors are permitted but must be unobtrusive in appearance.

4.8 Kerb memorials will only be permitted on graves within the kerb section of the cemetery and should not exceed 6’6” (1982mm) x 2’6” (762mm).

4.9 Headstones should not exceed 4’0” (1220 mm) in height. The base of the stone should not exceed 2’6” (762 mm) wide x 18” (457mm) deep.

5.0 Vertical memorials for cremated remains plots should not exceed 18” (457mm) in height, the base should not exceed 18” (457mm) wide x 12” (305mm) deep.

5.1 Horizontal memorials for cremated remains plots should not exceed 18” (457mm) in width, 17” (432mm) in depth and 2” (51 mm) in thickness.

5.2 The Council will not be responsible for any damage to memorials or headstones by storm, wind, lightning, subsidence, acts of third parties or any other cause other than as a direct result of negligence of their employees.

5.3 The Council reserves the right to remove, cut down or prune any plant or shrub if it becomes neglected, unsightly or overgrown or when it is necessary to enable the grave, or surrounding graves, to be used again.

5.4 The Council reserves the right to remove neglected, damaged or decayed memorials.

5.5 The Council reserves the right to refuse permission for a memorial to be placed in the cemetery when the inscription is deemed to be unsuitable.

5.6 The Council reserves the right to alter or make additions to the foregoing regulations from time to time.