High Wycombe and Penn Road Cemetery regulations

Made under S214 and S266 of the Local Government Act 1972 and the Local Authorities’ Cemeteries Order 1977.

The cemetery will be open from 9.00 am and close at 9.00 pm or Sunset (Whichever is earlier) from February to October (inclusive), and close 4.00pm from November to January (Inclusive) including weekends and public holidays.

The Council reserves the right to close the cemetery at any time without prior notice and limit the entry of any persons.

Vehicles must not exceed 10 mph in the cemetery grounds.

The Cemetery Officer may exclude any vehicle which may be considered unsuitable.

All visitors to the cemetery must keep to the roads or paths, except whilst visiting a grave.

No cycling is permitted in any part of the cemetery.

All visitors must conduct themselves in a quiet and orderly manner.

• no children under 12 will be admitted except under the care of a responsible adult
• all visitors to the cemetery must keep to the roads and footpaths, except while visiting a grave
• dogs are not permitted (except guide dogs)
• bicycles are not permitted
• the manager has the right to forbid the entry of any unauthorised hearse, coach or other vehicle into the cemetery

The Cemetery Officer has full power to exclude or remove any member of the public at their discretion.

It is an offence for a person to wilfully:

• create any disturbance in the cemetery
• commit any nuisance in the cemetery
• interfere with any burial taking place in the cemetery
• interfere with any grave, vault, tombstone or other memorial, or any flowers or plants in any such manner
• play any game or sport in the cemetery
• enter or remain in the cemetery when it is closed to the public (unless authorised by the Council to do so)

Persons who contravene these provisions shall be liable to prosecution.

The permission of the Cemetery Officer shall be obtained before carrying out any photography in the cemetery.

Except on the production of the certificate of a Coroner or Medical Officer of Health that immediate burial is necessary on the grounds of public health, interments shall not take place on Sundays or Public Holidays.

All notices of interment must be given on the Council's printed form and this notice must be properly completed. Responsibility for error therein must rest with the person giving the notice. No order shall be taken for an interment in a grave in which the exclusive right of burial is intended to be purchased, unless the name and address of the person to be registered as owner be supplied at the time, upon the same form.

The Notice of Interment must be delivered to the Manager so as to allow a minimum:

• in the case of vaults and brick graves 3 full working days
• in the case of all other types of graves 2 full working day prior to the interment (short notice burials are accepted at the discretion of the Cemetery Officer)

Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays shall not be counted as working days.

If circumstances are such that a particular interment is not convenient or practicable the Cemetery Officer shall forthwith notify the person giving the grounds of their objection and such interment shall not take place except on such day and at such time as may be approved by the Cemetery Officer.

A Certificate from the Registrar of Births and Deaths, a Coroner's Order for Burial or in the case of a still birth a Certificate of the Registrar of Births and Deaths showing that they have registered the stillbirth, or that they have received official notice of the stillbirth, or a Coroner's Order for the burial, must be delivered to the Cemetery Officer, being the person effecting the disposal of the body prior to the interment.

Notice for the interment of cremated remains should be accompanied by the Certificate issued by the Crematorium where the cremation took place. Buckinghamshire Council will not inter ashes without this certificate.

Where ashes are placed in a plot intended for coffin burials then the right to further coffin burials will be lost. Further ashes burials may take place as space allows. It is recommended that anyone wishing to take this option discuss the issues first with the Cemetery Officer to make themselves fully aware of any implications.

The scattering of cremated remains is not permitted.

Urns or approved receptacles containing cremated remains may be interred in the ashes sections or in a private grave if space is available and subject to approval by the Council and the payment of the prescribed fee.

Burials shall not normally take place before 9.00am or after 3.30pm (Earlier in the Winter) Monday to Saturday.

Burials are not permitted on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

The Exclusive Right of Burial shall extend for 50 years from the date of purchase. Rights may be extended for further periods of 15 years on payment of the fee then applicable.

Ownership of an Exclusive Right of Burial for a grave does not give any ownership whatsoever in respect of actual land.

It does give the owner of the Deed the right to:

• be buried in that grave (where space is available)
• authorise further burial(s) in that grave (where space is available), or the interment of cremated remains in that grave
• erect or place a memorial on that grave subject to the Rules and Regulations of the Council relating to this matter
• have a replacement memorial or inscriptions/additional inscriptions placed on a memorial on that grave subject to the Rules and Regulations of the Council relating to this matter

On the purchase of the Exclusive Right of Burial in a grave, a Deed of Grant shall be issued to the purchaser whose name shall be registered.

The Deed of Grant, like any other Deed, is an important document and should be kept in a safe place along with any subsequent transfers of ownership.

The parents of children or stillborn babies buried in the Snowdrop Section at the cemetery may not purchase the Exclusive Right of Burial.

Possession of a Deed of Grant does not necessarily give the person in possession ownership of Exclusive Right of Burial.

Where the owner is deceased, subsequent ownership depends upon whether or not the deceased person left a valid Will. The law concerning this matter can be very complex and it is strongly advised that a Solicitor be consulted to establish new ownership.

Ownership of a Deed may also be transferred or assigned on payment of the appropriate fee by use of a transfer form (Declaration, Indemnity and Application in respect of the transfer or assignment of an Exclusive Right of Burial) obtainable from The Council Offices at Queen Victoria Road.

The selection of sites of all graves is to be decided by the Cemetery Officer.

All graves are to be dug or excavated by or under the direction of the Cemetery Officer. Coffins must be of a material and design approved by the Council.

All turfing of graves will be carried out by the Council allowing a suitable period for settlement following an interment, and the Council will also undertake the maintenance of all grass areas.

The Council reserve the right to prune or remove any tree or shrub planted on a grave space that has in the opinion of the Cemetery Officer become unsightly.

This cemetery prohibits use of:

• glass jars
• bottles
• plastic containers
• artificial flowers

Any monument, memorial, stone, shrub, plant or item whatsoever erected or placed in the cemetery in contravention of these Regulations may be removed by the Cemetery Officer at any time without prior notice.

Monuments, memorials or tablets may only be placed or erected on graves where the Exclusive Right of Burial has been purchased and shall not be placed or erected without the issue of a memorial permit and the approval of the Council.

All memorials must be of natural stone.

A completed memorial application form signed by the grave owner (the owner of the Exclusive Right of Burial) and the memorial mason must be submitted to the Council.

This must contain a dimensioned illustration / picture of the memorial and the proposed written inscription and any other details. The inscription must include the full known names of those interred as shown on the death certificate.

Additional inscriptions can only be added with the written approval of the Council and the payment of the appropriate fee.

No memorial may be erected or inscription added without the Council's written approval in the form of a permit which will be issued to the memorial mason on payment of the appropriate fee. This permit must then be produced to the Cemetery Officer before work is begun.

The council reserves the right to inspect, test and make safe all memorials in the cemetery.

Memorials must also meet the guidelines for the section in which they are erected.

Monuments, memorials or tablets may only be placed or erected on graves where the Exclusive Right of Burial has been purchased and shall not be placed or erected without the issue of a memorial permit and the approval of the Council.

All memorials must be of natural stone.

A completed memorial application form signed by the grave owner (the owner of the Exclusive Right of Burial) and the memorial mason must be submitted to the Council.

This must contain a dimensioned illustration / picture of the memorial and the proposed written inscription and any other details. The inscription must include the full known names of those interred as shown on the death certificate.

Additional inscriptions can only be added with the written approval of the Council and the payment of the appropriate fee.

No memorial may be erected or inscription added without the Council's written approval in the form of a permit which will be issued to the memorial mason on payment of the appropriate fee. This permit must then be produced to the Cemetery Officer before work is begun.

The council reserves the right to inspect, test and make safe all memorials in the cemetery.

Memorials must also meet the guidelines for the section in which they are erected.

A wooden cross or other appropriate wooden marker may be erected temporarily to mark a new grave and shall be allowed for a period not exceeding 12 months from the date of interment. Such a temporary memorial will only be allowed on a grave where the exclusive right of burial has been purchased and prior written consent has been given.

All crosses must be hardwood and conform in location and size to the regulations for the section on which they are placed.

The Council reserves the right to remove any wooden cross permitted by this regulation following the expiry of twelve months.

Crosses must be erected on a suitable base not exceeding 750mm (29.25 inches) x 600 mm (23.4 inches) and have a shaft not less than 75mm (2.92 inches) thick.

No memorial or part of a memorial may be removed from the cemetery without the prior approval of the Cemetery Officer. Any memorial removed in the process of opening a grave shall be removed at the risk and expense of the person requiring the grave to be opened.

Any memorial taken down for any purpose must be removed from the cemetery.

Grave spaces shall have the first 600mm (23.4 inches) from one end (to be determined by the Cemetery Officer) for the erection of a memorial in accordance with these regulations. If no memorial is to be erected, then this may be used for the planting or placing of flowers or plants. The remainder to be kept level with the existing ground and maintained as a lawn plot free from all obstructions.

Any item placed or planted on any grave space other than a memorial approved in accordance with these regulations, becomes the property of the Council, which reserves the right to remove and dispose of the same, without being liable for compensation or to account for the proceeds of disposal.

Kerb sets are not allowed in the Lawn section with the exception of the J1 Adult Muslim Section.

The construction of mounds will not be allowed in any part of the cemetery other than those areas set aside for Muslim burials, any neglected mound may be levelled and turfed. Mounds on Muslim graves shall not exceed 152 mm (6 inches) in height.

Memorials, headstones and other inclusions are subject to the below rules:

1. No memorial in the lawn section will exceed 800mm (31.2 inches) in height measured from ground level.
2. Headstones must not exceed 750mm (29.25 inches) in width and must not be less than 75mm (2.92 inches) in thickness.
3. Memorial tablets, plaques and books shall not be greater than 750mm (29.25 inches) x 600mm (23.4 inches) and fixed level with the ground.
4. Vases must be erected singly or with a memorial provided that the vase does not exceed 200mmm (7.8 inches) in height and is erected on a suitable plinth or bearer not exceeding 750mm (29.25 inches) x 600mm (23.4 inches).
5. A bored vase hole to include an aluminium flower container may be included with the stone providing it does not exceed the stated dimensions above.
6. Vases must be erected singly or with a memorial provided that the vase does not exceed 200mmm (7.8 inches) in height and is erected on a suitable plinth or bearer not exceeding 750mm (29.25 inches) x 600mm (23.4 inches).
7. A bored vase hole to include an aluminium flower container may be included with the stone providing it does not exceed the stated dimensions above.

Memorials placed on areas designated for ashes burials must be a maximum of 600mm (23.4 inches) x 600mm (23.4 inches) fixed at ground level not exceeding 450mm (17.5 inches) in height.

A bored vase hole to include an aluminium flower container may be included with the stone providing it does not exceed the stated dimensions above.

This is a specially designated area within the High Wycombe cemetery where the right of burial has been granted to the Child Bereavement Charity for the burial of babies and children up to 3 years and ashes of children up to 14 years free of charge.

The exclusive right of burial therefore can not be purchased for this section.

memorials, stones and vases are subject to the below regulations:

1. Memorials should be of natural stone and no larger than 380 mm (15 inches) x 380 mm (15 inches) for an interment or 300 mm (12 inches) x 300 mm (12 inches) for an ashes burial.
2. All stones should be positioned directly over the burial and the base shall be laid flush with the ground.
3. A bored vase hole to include an aluminium flower container may be included with the stone providing it does not exceed the stated dimensions above.

Memorials should conform to the following:

1. In the old Section all enclosures shall be 2400mm (93.6 inches) x 1200mm (46.8 inches) for Class A graves, 2100mm (81.9 inches) x 900mm (35.1 inches) for Class B & C graves, 1500mm (58.5 inches) x 750mm (29.25 inches) for Young Persons graves and 1200mm (46.8 inches) x 600mm (23.4 inches) for Children's graves.
2. No memorial shall exceed 800mm (31.2 inches) in height or be less than 75mm (2.92 inches) thick.

All chippings, crazy paving and other materials shall be supported by a concrete slab conforming to the following requirements:

1. A pre-cast reinforced slab at least 50mm (1.95 inches) thick or,
2. A slab of in situ reinforced concrete at least 75mm (2.92 inches) in thickness.

If no memorial is to be erected the first 600mm (23.4 inches) from one end to be determined by the Cemetery Officer may form an earth plot for the planting of flowers, or placement of a vase, the remainder to be level with the existing ground and maintained as a lawn plot free of all obstructions.

Neglected plots may be taken over and grassed down by the Council.

Vases may be of robust metal or earthenware. Artificial flowers will not be permitted.

On that part of the cemetery adjoining the premises known as Godstowe School, which is marked on the plan deposited at the Cemetery Office, no memorial shall be of a greater height than 750mm (29.25 inches) from ground level.

We are responsible for health and safety in High Wycombe cemetery and conduct regular testing and inspection of the stability of memorials and safety of plots.

It is essential that we can contact the owner of a plot or memorial if any problems are found. Changes of address or ownership should be notified to us immediately, so that records can be kept up-to-date.