Responsibilities are shared between the following:

1.        The Proprietor

The proprietor is the person who has acquired the exclusive right of burial, together with the right to erect a memorial on the plot. He or she is responsible throughout the lifespan of the memorial for its general condition, upkeep and stability, and for ensuring compliance with these regulations.

2.        The Mason / Erector

The mason or erector, having been commissioned by the proprietor, has a duty of professional care and must abide by the regulations laid down by the landowner. The memorials must be installed in accordance with BS8415 safety standards and securely fixed in accordance with the technical specifications approved by the Burial Authority.

3.        The Landowner

The Burial Authority (Parish Council) is holding private property in a public area and has overall responsibility for the safety of visitors. The landowner retains ultimate control over what is placed within the burial ground and the rules governing its upkeep.

Applications for the exclusive right of burial shall be made to the Clerk to the Burial Authority. Applicants will receive a duplicate copy of the Grant of Exclusive Right of Burial duly signed by the appointed officer. Grave spaces shall be allocated in numerical order in accordance with the burial ground plan and may not be purchased or reserved.

Applications for interment shall be made to the Clerk to the Burial Authority.

Applications for the erection of headstones, memorials, vases or additional inscriptions must be submitted to the Clerk to the Burial Authority for approval before any work is undertaken. No monument, gravestone or tablet may be erected unless a Grant of Exclusive Right of Burial has been issued.

Applications for interment are to be made to the Clerk to the Burial Authority.

Applications for erection of headstone and additional inscriptions are to be made to the Clerk to the Burial Authority, and designs submitted for approval before work is put in hand. Applicants should be aware that no monument, gravestone or tablet can be erected unless a Grant of Exclusive Right of Burial has been made.

The following rules must be observed by the proprietor:

The proprietor remains responsible throughout the lifespan of the memorial for its condition, upkeep and stability.

Headstones shall be of natural stone and shall not exceed 75 cm in height. Reconstructed or artificial stone is not permitted.

Kerbs, chippings, edging or fencing are not permitted.

The burial ground shall be maintained in a level condition. Permanent earth mounds are not permitted.

No planting, shrubs, trees of individual grave plots is permitted.

Vases for floral displays shall not exceed 30 cm in height. Glass items are not permitted. Any other form of container requires prior written consent from the Burial Authority. Plastic flowers are not permitted.

In the Garden of Rest, no memorial other than the approved stone with inscription is permitted. Stones shall not exceed 30 cm x 30 cm or 30 cm in height. Cut flowers must be placed only in the trough provided.

Dogs are not permitted within the Burial Ground.

Temporary items such as flowers, cards and small tributes may be placed on graves immediately following a burial but may be removed by the Burial Authority after a reasonable period (normally 4–6 weeks).

The Burial Authority reserves the right to carry out memorial safety inspections.

Where a memorial is found to be unsafe:

The proprietor will be notified where possible and given a reasonable period (normally 28 days) to carry out repairs.

In cases of immediate risk, the Burial Authority may take temporary action (including staking, cordoning off or laying flat) without prior notice.

Any costs reasonably incurred by the Burial Authority may be recovered from the proprietor.

The landowner, as steward of the burial ground, shall:

Maintain a register of all burials in accordance with current legislation.

Maintain contact with proprietors at reasonable intervals to ensure burial rights are either maintained or surrendered.

Ensure compliance with these regulations.

Appoint a competent person to establish technical specifications for foundations and memorial fixings appropriate to ground conditions – this will be governed by BS8415 and the National Association of Memorial Masons Code of Working Practice.

Make copies of these regulations available to funeral directors, masons and the public.

Hold burial records in accordance with current data protection legislation.

The landowner may take such action as necessary to enforce these regulations, including the removal of unauthorised or inappropriate items. Where practicable, notice may be given before removal.

All visitors shall behave in a manner respectful to others and to the nature of the burial ground. Pathways must be always kept clear, and excessive noise or disruptive behaviour is not permitted.

Entitlement to the exclusive right of burial applies where the applicant or the deceased:

·      Is a current inhabitant of Ashford-in-the-Water

·      Was born in Ashford-in-the-Water

·      Was a former inhabitant or parishioner for a period of at least ten years

In the case of a still-born child, one parent must satisfy the above criteria.

Persons not meeting the above criteria are not entitled to apply for an exclusive right of burial.

FEES –

The fees indicated do not include the digging of the grave.

·      ​Exclusive Right of Burial in Earthen Graves   Fees for Exclusive Right of Burial for a period not exceeding one hundred years are as follows:

·      ​in an earthen grave 2.75 m x 1.25 m:​ £510

·      ​of cremated remains in an earthen grave 45 cm x 45 cm​ in the Garden of Rest​ £160

These fees include the deed of the Grant of Exclusive Right of Burial and all the expenses thereof.

​Interment - Fees for interment are as follows:

·      ​of the body of a still born child or a child whose age at the time of death did not exceed one year:​ NO CHARGE

·      ​of the body of a child whose age at the time of death exceeded one year, but did not exceed 18 years: NO CHARGE

·      ​of the body of a person whose age at the time of death exceeded 18 years: ​£290

·      ​of cremated remains in the Garden of Rest, or in an existing grave (unless subparagraph ‘a’ applies): £75

​Monuments, Gravestones, Tablets and Monumental Inscriptions

​For the right to erect or place on a grave for which exclusive right of burial has been granted, the following fees apply:

​for a headstone not exceeding 75 cm in height above the ground, in a stone and with an inscription, both approved by the Burial Authority​ £75

​in the case of cremated remains in the Garden of Rest, for a stone with inscription approved by the Burial Authority: £45

​for each additional inscription: £45

​for a vase not exceeding 30 cm in height:​ £45

​Searches of Register Books    The register of burials shall at all reasonable times be available for consultation by any person free of charge.  Where a search is conducted by a representative of the Burial Authority, the following charges apply:

​for every search covering a period of up to one year:​ £45

​for every additional year:​ £7.50

​for every certified copy of an entry: £30

​Review of Fees - may be revised periodically by the Burial Authority.

All fees are payable in advance and do not include the cost of grave digging.

QUERIES & COMPLAINTS

Any enquiries, disputes or complaints relating to the burial ground shall be addressed in writing to the Clerk to the Parish Council – contact details are available via the website www.ashford-in-the-water-pc.gov.uk