Rules and Regulations
1 July 2002
Made by the Taunton Deane Borough Council in respect of the the cemeteries under their control
1. Opening times
1.1 The Cemeteries are open every day from 8.30 am until sunset or 7.00 pm at latest.
2. Enquiries
2.1 Please contact the Crematorium office which is open during week days from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Alternatively you can contact us on 01823 284811.
3. Interments
3.1 All interments need to be arranged through the Crematorium office, we request that we receive two working days notice prior to a burial taking place.
3.2 Before a grave can be opened, a completed notice of interment and in case of a previously purchased grave, the Deed of Grant must be received. If the Deed is lost, a form of declaration is required before the grave can be opened.
3.3 We must be notified if the deceased suffered from an infectious disease or was exposed to radiation.
4. Funerals
4.1 Please notify us of large congregations and special requirements as soon as possible. Once within the Cemetery the funerals are subject to the direction of the Cemetery staff.
4.2 The relevant legal documentation required must be received prior to the burial taking place.
5. Interments
5.1 Interments in coffins or caskets of wood, wicker or cardboard only shall be used for coffined burials in the cemeteries. Uncoffined burial is permitted providing the deceased is suitably wrapped causing no offence to the living or indignity to the deceased. All coffins, caskets or uncoffined burials must be clearly identified with the name of the deceased
5.2 The sites of all graves will be determined by the Registrar.
5.3 A Grant of Exclusive Right of Burial in respect of a grave space will be provided for a period not exceeding 75 years.
5.4 The purchase of and interment in a grave space in any area designated as a lawn section will be conditional on the acceptance by the purchaser of the principle of the maintenance of the grave area and the specification relating to memorials and the regulations governing their erection.
5.5 Brick graves or vaults can only be constructed with the permission of the Registrar under the following circumstances:
- when insufficient depth of soil is available for a legal burial to take place in a grave for which a right of burial subsists:
- when the weather or ground conditions require it; and
- for health and safety reasons
6. Conduct
6.1 Visitors must conduct themselves in a quiet and orderly manner and must keep to the roads and paths except when visiting a grave.
6.2 Dogs may only be brought into the Cemeteries in accordance with the conditions described in the byelaws.
6.3 The press may only photograph or film with the permission of the Registrar.
6.4 Motor vehicles and pedestrians will be permitted to enter a Cemetery only if on Cemetery business.
6.5 No arrangement must be made with or fees paid to any employees of the council for any private service or work in the Cemeteries.
7. Exhumations
7.1 Arrangements for exhumation must be made with the Registrar, he having been given adequate notice of the intention to exhume and he having been satisfied that all necessary legal consents have been obtained.
8. Cremated Remains
8.1 Cremated remains may be scattered on or interred in a previously purchased grave or in any area reserved for the purpose in any cemetery.
9. Planting of Graves
9.1. Small shrubs or plants may be placed on grave spaces, except on the grassed area designated as a Lawn Section in Taunton Deane Cemetery and Wellington Cemetery, or section 6 in St James Cemetery. The Council reserve the right to prune, cut down or remove any shrubs, plants or flowers at any time when, in the opinion of the Council the same have become unsightly or overgrown. Planting is not permitted on Lawn Section graves bearing horizontal tablets.
9.2 Please place dead flowers etc in refuse baskets provided.
10. Flower containers
10.1 Flower containers may be incorporated into the design of the memorial. Separate vases may be permitted on graves in the traditional section of the cemetery and on lawn graves bearing memorials other than horizontal tablets, in accordance with specifications included in Regulations 10-14.
11. Lawn section
11.1 No grave mound, kerbing or other surround will be permitted in any section of the Cemeteries designated as a lawn section.
11.2 The council will provide and maintain a grassed area covering the grave space. Planting may be permitted on Lawn Section graves bearing memorials other than horizontal tablets in Taunton Deane Cemetery on an area 4' x 1' 10" at the head of the grave. Planting is not permitted on Lawn Section graves bearing horizontal tablet memorials.
11.3 Memorials approved by the Registrar may be erected at the head of the grave.
12. Application for Permission to Erect Memorials
12.1 Application for permission to erect memorials, cut inscriptions or carry out work on existing memorials must be made to the Registrar on the form provided.
12.2 No work must be carried out before permission has been granted by the Registrar and the appropriate fee has been paid.
12.3 The Council may refuse to permit memorials considered inappropriate or that would cause offence.
13. Conditions of work
13.1 A current copy of a monumental mason's public liability insurance, 'certificate from insurer' (minimum value £5,000,000) must either be held by us or produced when working in the cemetery.
13.2 Monumental masons working in the cemetery must give a guarantee of workmanship (minimum 15 years).
13.3 Monumental masons must first report to the office when working in the cemetery.
13.4 Memorials may only be brought into the Cemeteries during the office hours specified in Regulation 1(ii).
13.5 Any monumental mason who removes a memorial for the purpose of carrying out an interment or for any other purpose must refix the same within 12 months of the date of its removal.
13.6 No hewing or dressing of memorials will be permitted within the Cemeteries and all materials shall be conveyed into them in a manner which will not cause nuisance nor damage the grounds or paths. All refuse and materials must be removed in a like manner.
14. Memorial materials
14.1 All memorials shall be constructed of best quarried materials. All dowels and fixings shall conform to current National Association of Memorial Masons (NAMM) recommendations. Do not use materials likely to perish, become unsightly or pose a danger to visitors. Memorials may not be painted
14.2 Memorials and vases of quarried materials shall have the number of the grave space cut conspicuously on the back. Monumental masons may display their name in letters not exceeding half an inch in a position approved by the Registrar.
14.3 Photographs only in the form of ceramic photographic plaques not exceeding 6" x 4" in size containing the head and shoulder photographs are permitted. These must be fixed below the surface of the memorial and approved by the Registrar in advance.
15. Memorial erections and specifications
All dowells and fixings shall conform to current NAMM recommendations
15.1 Memorials erected with the ground anchor system must display an asterisk next to the gravespace number.
15.2 Memorials removed for an additional inscription must be returned with a NAMM recommended fixing method.
15.3 Lawn sections
- A memorial at the head of the grave is permitted provided it is constructed of materials specified in regulation 13.1. The memorial must not exceed 3' 6" in height and 2' 3" in width and 4" thick.
- Bases must be fixed 3" from the back of the grave space.
- Foundation slabs must rest below ground level.
- Carving is permitted as an integral part of the headstone
- The overall size of foundations must exceed the dimensions of memorials by not less than 2".
- All memorials must be supported by a foundation approved by the registrar.
15.4 Lawn section - Tablets
- Horizontal tablets manufactured in one piece from granite only must be 1' 8" from front to back, 1' 6" wide, 4" thick at the back and 2" thick at the front.
- No more than two flower containers may be inset in a flat band extending no more than 6" from the back of the memorial. No separate vase will be permitted.
- The foundation slab must be set below ground level and must not exceed 2' x 2' but must exceed the dimensions of the memorial by 2".
- The foundation slab must be fixed at the back of the grave space in a position approved by the Registrar.
15.5 Old Cremated Remains section - Flat Tablets
- Memorials only in the form of flat tablets are allowed on this section. They must be manufactured in one piece from granite only.
- These tablets may be either square or hexagon in shape, measuring 18" x 18" and be a minimum of 2" thick.
- The tablet must be on a foundation slab exceeding the dimensions of the memorial by 2" but not exceed 22" and be a minimum of 2" thick.
- No part of the memorial must exceed ground level, carving in relief on the face of the memorial may be permitted to a depth not exceeding 1/4". Inscriptions in the form of raised lettering are not permitted.
- The grave number must appear on the face of the stone.
- No trade names are allowed on memorials.
- No more than two flower containers may be inset and no separate vase will be permitted.
- Only memorials approved by the Registrar may be erected on the grave.
- The position of the cremated remains shall be in the position designated by the Registrar.
15.6 New Cremated Remains section - Tablets
- Memorials only in the form of tablets are allowed on this section.
- These should not exceed 18" x 18" x 4" and be a minimum of 2" thick.
- The tablet must be on a foundation slab measuring 2' 6" x 2'.
- The base must not exceed ground level.
- Carving in relief on the face of the memorial may be permitted to a depth not exceeding 1/4". Inscriptions in the form of raised lettering are not permitted.
- The grave number must appear on the face of the stone.
- No trade names are allowed on memorials.
- No more than two flower containers may be inset and no separate vase will be permitted.
- Only memorials approved by the Registrar may be erected on the grave.
- The position of the cremated remains shall be in the position designated by the Registrar.
15.7 Traditional sections
Memorials:
- Must not exceed 3' 6" in height and 3' 10"in width.
- Those not exceeding 2' 6" in height shall not be less than 2" thick.
- Those exceeding 2' 6" in height shall not be less than 3" thick.
- Those without kerbing must not exceed 2' 6" in width.
- May rest on no more than two bases which will not increase the total height of the memorial by more than 1 ft.
- Kerbs must not be less than 5" x 3".
- Post, recumbent tablets and flat stone must not exceed 10" in height.
- Kerbing, recumbent tablets and flat stones must rest on foundations enclosing a space 7' 6" x 4' 0" at Taunton Deane and Wellington Cemeteries and 8' 6" x 4' 0" at St James' and St Mary's Cemeteries.
16. Condition of Memorials
16.1 The Council will not be liable for damage to any memorial in the Cemeteries caused by storm, wind, subsidence or by any other cause.
16.2 All memorials shall be kept in repair by the owner and if not so may be repaired or removed at the discretion of the Council and at the expense of the owner.
16.3 The Council may authorise removal of memorials from private graves where the period of right of burial has expired.
These Rules and Regulations shall come into operation on 1 July 2002 and thereafter shall have effect in substitution for all Rules and Regulations previously in force.
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