For ease of grounds maintenance Section ‘D’, the burial area currently in use, was designed to be a lawned cemetery containing only headstones which had been authorised by the Parish Council (the burial authority).
The Parish Council has noticed that a number of grave surfaces have been planted and/or contain unauthorised memorials in addition to the approved headstone. These unauthorised memorials include free-standing vases, plant containers and other articles placed upon the grave surface.
At its meeting on 31 October 2002 the Parish Council resolved that providing planted grave surfaces are maintained in a manner satisfactory to the Parish Council no action will be taken. In respect of the additional unauthorised memorials already in place, it was further resolved that subject to retrospective agreement being sought from the Parish Council no action would be taken*.
The Parish Council further resolved that the Council reserved the right, in accordance with the powers and procedures set out in Article 16(2) and Schedule 3 of the Local Authorities' Cemeteries Order 1977 to give notice to remove any plant and/or other memorial placed in or on the grave surface where, in the Parish Council’s opinion the grave is not maintained to a satisfactory standard and/or no agreement for an unauthorised memorial had been sought.
With effect from 1 November 2002, written permission to plant graves in Section ‘D’ and/or place additional memorials on the grave surface will be required beforehand. The relevant fee at the time of application shall be applied in these circumstances. The Parish Council hereby gives notice that it reserves the right to remove any unauthorised planting and/or memorials from the cemetery placed in or upon graves after this date where permission has not be sought or granted.
For further information or clarification, please contact the Parish Clerk.
…………………………….Clerk for and on behalf of Deeping St James Parish Council
14 November 2002
* Holders of Exclusive Rights of Burial, or their heirs and successors where applicable, are urged to contact the Parish Clerk in order that contact details can be kept up to date in order to enable the Parish Council to communicate directly.