Ash Parish Council

Cemetery Rules and Regulations

Ash Parish Council welcomes all visitors to the Cemetery and you are asked to respect the peace and dignity of the facility. Children should be kept under supervision and dogs must be kept on a lead, owners are requested to clear up any dog fouling and place in the dog litter bins where provided.

Applications for Interment

All applications for Interment should be submitted to Ash Parish Council 72 hours prior to the interment.

Purchase of Exclusive Right Of Burial

'Right of Burial' may be purchased at the time of the interment on payment of the appropriate fee. ‘Right’ is granted for 100 years. The Exclusive Right entitles the deed-holder to determine who is buried in the grave and whether a memorial can be placed (subject to the payment of the relevant fee and permission being granted). All requests for transfers of Exclusive Right must be in writing to Ash Parish Council together with payment of the relevant administration fee.

Common Graves

Should the Exclusive Right not be purchased at the time of interment Ash Parish Council reserves the right to determine the initial depth of the grave is 6’6”. Any subsequent interment in that grave space will be at 4' 6”.

Grave Depths

The Local Authority Cemeteries Order Act 1977 states that 3ft of soil has to be between the top of the last coffin interred and the ground level (for an average coffin being 1ft 3 inches in height). For double depth graves 6 inches of soil are to be left in between each coffin.

Single grave depth are 4ft 6 inches
Double grave depth are 6ft 6 inches
Childrens grave depth are 4ft 6 inches

Memorials

Any “Exclusive Right” deed-holder who wishes to erect a monument in the cemetery must first obtain permission from Ash Parish Council. The application must show a drawing or illustration of the design, dimensions, kerb sets and materials to be used and any inscription required. Those who erect monuments or kerb sets not in compliance with these directives may be compelled to remove them and pay all costs involved. Subsequent additions of kerb sets or additional memorial items must be applied for as above.

Monumental Mason's names, signs or marks may be inscribed on any monument provided their appearance are seemly and unobtrusive having regard to the monument as a whole. Every memorial erected or placed in the cemetery shall bear the grave space number engraved on the back face or base.

All memorials to be erected in accordance with the Ash Parish Council’s Codes of Practice in respect of the Erection of Memorials.

Memorials shall be constructed of granite, marble, slate or other hard natural stone of monumental quality.

All memorials remain the property and responsibility of the owner. Ash Parish Council shall not be held responsible for any damage or breakage, which may occur to any memorial through any cause whatsoever. The owner may have liability for any injury or death resulting from an unstable or incorrectly erected memorial

Headstones shall not exceed 4’ in height.
Kerb Sets must not exceed 7ft x 3ft
Under Slabs must not exceed 7ft x 3ft

Flowers and Plants

Only permitted flower receptacles are allowed in the Cemetery. Under no circumstances should glass containers be used.

The Council reserves the right to remove, and dispose of, deteriorated floral tributes.
THE PLANTING OF BUSHES, TREES AND SHRUBS IS NOT PERMITTED WITHIN THE LAWN SECTION (Sections L and M)

Garden of Remembrance

Permitted memorials will have a maximum size of 18 inches x 18 inches and must be flat tablets. Permitted flower receptacles only are allowed and indiscriminate planting in the ground is not permitted.

Cremated Remains

Caskets of ashes may be interred within the Gardens of Remembrance, in a conventional grave in the cemetery for which the ‘Exclusive Right’ has been purchased, or in Columbaria Vaults. There is no facility for ‘scattering’ ashes.

Cremated remains may only be interred in grave spaces where ‘Grants of Right’ exist. ‘Grants of Right’ to deposit ashes in Columbaria Vaults are available for 30 year terms, which are renewable. Where grants are not renewed and after attempts to trace family owners, ashes will be interred in an area designated within the Garden of Remembrance for such interments.

Wall Memorial Plaques

Wall memorial plaques may be purchased on a 10 year term which is renewable. Where the right is not renewed and after attempts to contact the owner, the plaque will be removed.

Memorial Trees

Memorial Trees and accompanying plaques may be purchased from Ash Parish Council for planting in an Avenue of Remembrance within the cemetery.

Fees

Fees for all cemetery services will be determined by the Council annually to take effect from 1st April each year. In determining whether fees chargeable are at Parishioner or Non-Parishioner rate the following will apply:-

The last permanent address of the deceased will be used. If a long-term resident of Ash has been accommodated in a residential care/nursing home outside the Parish, the Parishioner rate will apply so long as the deceased has had a permanent address in the Parish within the year immediately prior to the date of death.

GENERAL

Grass Cutting and Maintenance Work

This will be carried out by Ash Parish Council and the frequency will be determined by weather conditions. Individual maintenance of grave spaces is the responsibility of owners. The Council reserves the right to carry out levelling or in-filling on grave spaces where this becomes necessary.

Litter and Rubbish

Litter bins are situated around the Cemetery and should be used to dispose of all rubbish.
Wreaths and floral tributes from recent funerals should be removed when they have deteriorated.

Water

A water supply is available in the Cemetery via storage tanks. Watering cans are provided. Visitors are asked not to use pesticides or insecticides when watering. At times the water supply may be turned off to avoid freezing.

Seats

Various seats have been provided in the cemetery for visitors to use.

Requests for Benches

Anyone wishing to place a bench at the cemetery must apply to the council in writing. The Benches can be positioned along the path between K and L section and between K and M section, but are not allowed to be placed upon the plots. Any benches placed in the cemetery without authorisation will automatically be removed. The Council is not responsible for any damage or theft to the benches.