Access
Children under the age of 15 will be permitted within a cemetery only when in the care of a responsible adult.
Cycling is not permitted within the cemeteries.
No dog will be permitted to enter or remain within a cemetery unless kept continuously on a leash and under proper control. Any fouling shall be cleaned up - bins are provided for the purpose at all gates.
Offences
Under the 
The Local Authorities' Cemeteries Order 1977 [104kb] Section 18, no person shall: -
- wilfully create any disturbance in a cemetery,
- commit any nuisance in a cemetery,
- wilfully interfere with any burial taking place in a cemetery,
- wilfully interfere with any grave or vault, any tombstone or other memorial, or any flowers or plants or any such matter, or
- play at any game or sport in a cemetery.
Any offences under Section 18 shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a fine not exceeding £10 for each day during which the offence continues after conviction therefore.
All persons admitted within a cemetery shall be subject to the control and supervision of the cemetery staff who are empowered to take such action, as they may consider appropriate against any person causing offence.
No person shall bring any litter or other waste material into a cemetery and any waste or litter arising from attending or caring for graves shall be deposited in the bins provided.
Skateboarding, roller skating or similar pursuits are not permitted in the grounds.
Drivers of vehicles shall not exceed the speed limit of 5 mph. Cars and other light vehicles must only be driven on the main carriageways. Cemetery staff may permit other vehicles to be driven within the cemeteries should the need arise. Vehicles shall not be driven on footpaths, grass areas or planted areas. All vehicles shall be neatly parked to allow access for other vehicles.
The Council shall not accept responsibility for loss from or damage to any vehicle brought into a cemetery.
All persons shall conduct themselves in a quiet, decent and orderly manner within the cemetery.
No person other than an officer or servant of the Burial Authority or another person so authorised by or on behalf of the Burial Authority shall enter or remain within a cemetery at any hour when it is closed to the public.
The taking of commercial photographs and filming is not permitted in the cemetery except with the prior approval of the Council for which a fee may be charged.
No person shall unreasonably interrupt the cemetery staff whilst they are engaged in their duties nor seek to employ them privately to execute any work within a cemetery. No person employed by the Council is allowed to receive any gratuity whatsoever.
No person shall canvass or solicit orders in the cemetery grounds.
Alcoholic drinks shall not be consumed in the cemetery.
Interments
The Council, as Burial Authority, may grant to any person the Exclusive right of burial in any grave for a period of 10, 30 or 50 years in the first instance. This may be extended thereafter in 10 year periods. The fees charged for purchase of Exclusive Rights of Burial exclude the cost of excavation, which will be carried out at the currently published fee.
Before 1974 it was Council practice to take a reservation fee for graves, but not to legally grant Exclusive Rights. In these cases the Council may grant the Rights for a period of 10 years free of charge. After this period the Rights may be extended in the normal way.
No purchased grave shall be opened until evidence of the purchase of the Rights has been produced to the Bereavement Services Manager.
Only caskets of wood or other biodegradable materials shall be used for interment.
The conduct of any funeral in a cemetery shall be subject to the control and supervision of Council staff.
All persons attending a funeral shall leave the chapel or graveside after a reasonable period following the conclusion of the service or if requested to do so by the cemetery staff.
No smoking shall take place within or in close proximity to any place where an interment is taking place.
Following an interment all floral tributes will be placed on the grave by the cemetery staff. Floral tributes will be removed when, in the opinion of the cemetery staff they become unsightly. Some disturbance may be necessary if further interments occur in the same area.
Memorials
A memorial is any object placed upon the ground above a grave. It may be an engraved stone, cut flowers, vase or any other approved object. The term also refers to benches, trees and other items purchased from the Council or donated to the cemetery in memoriam.
The Exclusive Right of Burial must be purchased before an application to purchase the Right to place a memorial can be granted. Memorials purchased by persons other than the Grantee of Exclusive Rights are ultimately the responsibility of the Grantee.
Memorial rights are granted for a period of 10 years.
Applications to place a memorial must be signed by the holder of the Exclusive Rights of Burial.
No permanent memorial may be placed without full permission to do so being obtained from the Council in writing.
Although the intention is not to restrict choice, the Council as Burial Authority, reserves the right to object to an inscription that is, in their opinion, improper or undesirable. Any question that shall arise touching the fitness of any inscription in any part of the consecrated portion of the cemeteries may be determined on appeal by the Bishop of the Diocese.
Only tablets up to 18" x 18" (450mm x 450mm) may be fixed on cremation plots. Should a vase be required it must be installed on the stone itself. No memorials, vases, plants etc may be placed on the grass surrounding the tablet.
No planting, statuary or use of fencing, chippings, gravel or shingle is permitted on graves with the exception of that contained within a kerb.
Wreaths and cut flowers may be placed on graves subject to the discretion of the Council but when removed must be placed in the waste receptacles provided. Christmas wreaths will normally be removed by the end of January.
Memorials are the private property of the Grantee and must be maintained in a good and safe condition.
The Council as Burial Authority has the authority to remove or alter them in any way they deem necessary or desirable for the due order of the cemeteries. Before taking any action the Council will attempt to contact owners and families.
The cemetery staff may remove, or cause to be removed, any glass jar and vase or any other object considered to be a hazard to public safety or to cemetery staff, from any grave without notice.
Reclamation
The Council as Burial Authority reserve all rights of management of the Cemetery. In particular with respect to unused capacity: in unpurchased graves this is liable to be used at any time; in a case where a grant of Exclusive Rights of Burial has been made but not exercised after a period of not less than 75 years; or if exercised, after a period of not less than 100 years
