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GENERAL
1 These regulations and management rules shall apply to the cemeteries at
Atherton, Gidlow, Hindley, Howe Bridge, Ince, Leigh, Tyldesley, Westwood,
Wigan and the Crematorium at Ince at present operated and used by the
Council and also to any Cemetery and Crematorium hereafter established by
the Council or used or operated by them.
2. The offices of the Registrar and Superintendent and all offices at the
Cemeteries to which these regulations apply shall be open from Mondays to
Friday between the hours of 9:00am to 5:00pm and no business shall be
conducted outside these hours or on Saturdays, Sundays or Public and Local
Holidays.
3. In these Regulations:
(a) Any reference in the regulations to ‘the registrar’ and ‘the
Superintendent’ shall be construed as references to the Registrar and the
Superintendent for Cemeteries and Crematoria respectively for the time
being to the Council or any person authorised by him or the Council to
exercise any of the powers or duties conferred on him by these
regulations.
(b) ‘The Council’ shall mean ‘the Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council’ or
any successor thereof.
CEMETERY REGULATIONS
4. The cemeteries to which these regulations apply are open to the public
as follows:
Opening Times (All year) 9.00am
Closing Times
January 4.30pm
February 4.30pm
March (to the 18th) 5.30pm
March (19th to the 31st) 6.30pm
April 7.00pm
May, June, July, August 8.00pm
September 7.00pm
October (to the 18th) 6.30pm
October (19th to the 31st) 5.30pm
November 4.30pm
December 4.30pm
5 The purchase of an exclusive right of burial is restricted to standard
lawn grave spaces including memorial foundations where provided. The
construction of new vaults or bricked graves will not be permitted. An
exclusive right of burial shall be limited to a fixed period of 100 years.
6 No owner of an exclusive right of burial shall have the power to
transfer that right without the consent in writing of the Council.
7 NOTICE OF INTERMENT
(a) Prior to interment at least 3 working days notice must be given for
the opening of a new grave and not less than two working days notice shall
be given for a subsequent interment.
(b) In exceptional cases, where possible, interments will be arranged at
shorter notice than given sub paragraph (a) above. In such cases an
additional charge may be made to cover increased costs and charges
incurred by the Council.
(c) All notices of interment must be given in writing and delivered to the
office of the superintendent during normal office hours. No order given by
telephone will be accepted unless confirmed immediately in writing, such
confirmation to be delivered to the Superintendents office not later than
10.00am 2 days before the interment takes place.
(d) In graves in respective of which an exclusive right of burial has been
purchased no interment will be allowed to take place without:
(i) the production of a Deed of Grant: or
(ii) a signed declaration and
(iii) the written consent of the grave owner.
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8 PUBLIC GRAVES
The charge for an interment in a public grave does not confer any right or
privilege other than a right of a single burial in a grave to be selected
by the Council. No memorial vase, cross, tablet article or thing shall be
placed on any public grave.
9 OFFICIATING MINISTERS
All arrangements for the booking of ministers officiating at burials and
cremations shall be the responsibility of the Funeral Director or other
person undertaking arrangements for interment.
10 VEHICLES
Vehicles, other than those forming an integral part of the funeral
cortege, shall not proceed beyond the main entrance of a cemetery without
the written permission of the Registrar.
11 EXCLUSION OF PERSONS FROM CEMETERIES
All persons visiting any cemetery to which these regulations apply must
conform in all respects with these regulations. The Superintendent may at
his discretion exclude from any cemetery to which these regulations apply
any member of the public.
12 DEMONSTRATIONS
No demonstrations of any kind or any religious service, other than a
service at the time of interment shall be held without the consent of the
registrar.
13 UNRULY BEHAVIOUR
No person shall in any cemetery by any violent or indecent behaviour
prevent, interrupt or delay the decent and solemn interment of any body.
No persons shall play at any games or sport or discharge any firearms,
save at military funeral, or create or commit a nuisance within any
cemetery to which these regulations apply. All persons visiting the
cemetery shall conduct themselves in a quiet orderly and decorous manner.
14 DISTRIBUTION OF TRACTS OR ADVERTISEMENTS, ETC.
No person shall distribute tracts, business cards or advertisement within
any cemetery to which these regulations apply nor shall anyone be
permitted, without the express permission of the Registrar to trespass on
or use the roads or walks for the conveyance of any goods, parcels or
other materials not intended for use within that cemetery.
15 SOLICITING ORDERS
No mason or other person shall solicit orders in any manner or on any
pretext whatsoever within any cemetery to which these regulations apply.
No person within the employ of the Council shall solicit or undertake any
private work within any cemetery which theses regulations apply for reward
or otherwise. Any person whom the Superintendent considers to be in breach
of this regulation may at the discretion of the Superintendent be excluded
from any or all cemeteries to which these Regulations apply.
16 LAYOUT OF GRAVE SPACES (Lawn Plots Only)
The Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council reserves to itself the right to
arrange the layout of grave spaces and such layout, if thought fit may
involve the fixing of memorials in adjoining lines with their backs
touching each other.
17 GRAVE PLANTING
(a) the planting of graves is the responsibility of the grave owners and
the Council will not undertake any work of maintenance other than the
maintenance of lawns and grassed areas and grave plots maintained in
pursuance of maintenance agreements existing prior to the 1st April 1974.
(b) the planting of graves on lawn plots shall be restricted to the head
of the grave. The area which may be planted shall be in an area no greater
than 3 foot wide nor may it extend more than 15 inches forward from the
foot of the memorial base.
(c) No full length planting shall be permitted on any grave and the
Council may at their discretion alter any planted grave without notice if
it does not conform with these regulations.
(d) The Superintendent shall have the right to prune cut down or dig up
any plants on any grave whenever in his opinion the same have become
unsightly or overgrown.
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REGULATIONS FOR THE ERECTION OF MEMORIALS IN THE AUTHORITY’S CEMETERIES
Please Note
Any memorial mason wishing to work in Wigan Authority’s Cemeteries must be
registered under the Memorial Mason Registration scheme.
THE ERECTION OF MEMORIAL AND THE EXECUTION OF MEMORIAL WORKS.
18 Memorials may only be erected on graves in respect of which an
exclusive right of burial has been granted. Any memorial erected on any
grave shall be at the sole risk of the persons authorising or erecting
that memorial.
19 No memorial, article or other thing shall be erected or placed on any
grave within any cemetery to which these regulations apply without the
written permission of the Registrar.
The Council may, without making compensation to any person possessing an
exclusive right of burial, reverse, refix, move, line up or otherwise
alter the position of any memorial within any cemetery to which these
regulations apply as they may from time to time deem advisable. The
Council also may at any time without notice remove any dangerous or unsafe
memorials or any parts thereof.
20 The Funeral Director of any such person making arrangements for an
interment, shall also make arrangements for the removal and refixing of
any large memorial which:
(a) May obstruct the excavation of any grave.
(b) In the Superintendents opinion may endanger the health & safety of the
Councils employees.
(c) Could contribute to the collapse of a grave on certain sub-soil
conditions.
(d) Cause the memorial to fracture or break. Due to a shift of weight
during the excavation.
21 Before any work commences an application for the erection of any
memorial must be completed by the mason who is to carry out such work and
must be signed by the grave owner or such other person as may be
authorised to sanction such works. The completed application form together
with the fee must be delivered to the office of the Superintendent at
least one week before any permit is issued to undertake the work. No
application form once submitted to the Superintendent may be added to or
altered in any way whatsoever. A new application form must be submitted.
22 No monumental mason will be allowed to commence work on the erection of
a new memorial or the execution of any inscription work to any existing
memorial without a permit being signed by the Registrar. Any memorial
erected or any work executed without such permission may at the discretion
of the Superintendent be removed.
23 No kerbstones, edgings or grave surrounds will be allowed and no
memorial vase, article or other thing shall be placed on any grave space
without the written permission of the Registrar.
All memorials shall be restricted to lawn type headstones or alternately
simple tablets with maximum dimensions 2ft x 1ft or maker stones laid flat
with the surrounding turf.
24 Headstone memorials; shall be limited to 3ft 6” or 1m 50mm maximum
height and 2ft 6” or 750mm minimum measured from surrounding ground. Turf
level to the highest part of the memorial 3ft or 900mm maximum width and
2ft or 600mm minimum1ft or 300mm base width.
The headstone shall be no less than 3” or 75mm or more than 6” or 150mm in
thickness. All above memorials must have a concrete foundation to be
constructed by the mason which shall meet the following specification: 3ft
6” (1,050mm) to 4ft (1,200mm) in length depending on Cemetery and width of
grave space. 15” or 385mm in width 4” (100mm) to 6” (150mm) in depth
subject to soil type and stability of ground.
Alternatively such memorials may be affixed to a concrete foundation which
has been provided by the Council. In either case provision must be made
for the provision of a flower vase to be incorporated as an integral part
of the headstone base where the memorial is erected on a lawn plot.
25 One plinth stone only (if required) may be laid on top of the concrete
foundation and such plinth must be of natural stone or alternatively
terrazzo at a maximum width of 1ft 1” or 325mm. The elevation of such
memorials on additional flagstones on precast landings shall not be
allowed.
26 Additional vases, tablets or books may not be placed in front of the
memorial.
27 The section and the grave number must be inscribed on every memorial in
such a position that is clearly visible (e.g. rea of headstone base, side
of headstone base).
28 All memorials must be fixed to the base either by a joggle or by
stainless steel dowels. All memorials conveyed into or through the
cemetery must be conveyed in such a manner as to cause no damage to any
roads or to any of the graves within that cemetery.
29 All spare building materials or any other rubbish or waste matter
occasioned by the erection of any memorial or the execution of any work on
any material must be removed to the satisfaction of the Superintendent.
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30 No memorial may be taken down or removed for any purpose whatsoever
without the permission in writing of the registrar. Memorials and
headstones must be constructed of natural stone only, artificial stone of
any type is not permitted.
31 The Mason’s name or title may be inscribed on back or side of the base
of any memorial in letters no longer than 3 / 4” in height.
32 Before undertaking any work within the cemetery to which these
regulations apply a mason must report to the foreman on site. Any mason
failing to observe this regulation may at the discretion of the
Superintendent be excluded from any or call cemeteries to which these
regulations apply.
33 No workmen or materials will be admitted to any cemetery before 8.00am
and they will not be permitted at all on Saturdays, Sundays or Public
Holidays. Such persons and materials will not be allowed to remain in any
cemetery after the time specified by the Superintendent.
With all monumental work, the Council reserve the right to refuse
applications other than recognised Monumental Masons.
CREMATORIUM REGULATIONS
34 All cremations shall be conducted in accordance with the Cremation
Regulations 1930, 1952 and 1965 or any other regulations for the time
being in force – and must comply with the Environmental Protection Act
1990.
35 Application for Cremation must be made to the Superintendent during
normal office hours at least 48 hours (excluding Sundays) before the
proposed hour of cremation or instructions given by telephone will be
accepted unless such orders are confirmed immediately in writing and
delivered to the office of the Superintendent together with all other
statutory forms and certificates not later tan 10.00am on the day prior to
the cremation.
36 Cremation services may take place on any weekday (Monday to Fridays)
excluding Bank Holidays between the hours of 9.30am and 3.30pm.
37 If no instructions in writing have previously been given to the
Superintendent cremated remains shall be stored temporarily at the
discretion of the Superintendent and after giving 14 days notice to the
person making application for cremation, the remains will be strewed on
the Garden of Remembrance (Cremation Regulations 1930. Paragraph 16).
38 All persons attending a Cremation Service or otherwise for visiting the
Crematorium must comply with the requirements of the Superintendent. The
Superintendent may at his discretion exclude or remove from the precincts
of the Crematorium any member of the public he considers to be in breach
of his requirements or whom he considers should be removed or excluded
there from.
39 Two representatives of the deceased will be allowed to see the coffin
introduced into the Cremator if they so desire but they will not be
allowed to inspect the actual cremation process.
40 All persons within the gardens and grounds of the Crematorium shall
conduct themselves with due reverence and respect.
41 No dogs will be allowed in the Garden of Remembrance other than those
held on a lead.
42 Floral tributes may only be placed in the Garden of Remembrance in such
position as the Superintendent may prescribe.
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CREMATED REMAINS
43
(a) The scattering or disposing of cremated remains is prohibited within
the gardens and grounds of the Crematorium without the consent of the
registrar.
(b) No cremated remains will be interred or scattered within any of the
Cemeteries unless authorised by the Registrar. No such authorisation will
be given unless a Certificate has been obtained from the appropriate
officer of the Crematorium stating that a certificate for disposal has
been produced to the Medical Referee to that Crematorium and that the
notification of disposal has been delivered to the appropriate Registrar
of Births and Deaths.
CREMATION REGULATIONS
44 The Funeral Director must provide sufficient Bearers to convey the
coffin reverently from the hearse to the catafalque. The Funeral Director
must then ensure that the coffin is placed correctly in the position on
the catafalque.
45 Coffins for cremation must be made of suitable wooden material and must
be no greater than 20 inches wide. Such coffins must be made with a few
nails as possible, wooden pegs must be used wherever possible. On the base
of any such coffin all screws or nails must be countersunk to avoid damage
tot he catafalque. Such coffins should be stained and only thin spirit
varnish must be applied. Alternatively such coffins may be covered with a
thin layer of white, black or purple cloth. Any damage caused to the
catafalque by virtue of the failure of any Funeral Director to observe
this regulation shall be rectified by the Council and that Funeral
Director shall pay the cost of such work.
46 Coffins used for cremation shall not be coated or packed with sawdust,
polystyrene or other smoked producing materials, or pitch. If the
condition of the body to be cremated, or illness from which the deceased
died make it desirable to calk the joints of that coffin only plaster of
paris must be used.
47 Coffins handles may be made from base material polypropylene, coffin
handles made of polystyrene or other plastic materials will not be
accepted. Coffins used for cremations may be covered with vinyl covering,
the thickness of that covering however must be less than .004” (.112mm).
Coffin mouldings or beadings manufactured in PVC or other plastic
materials must not be used.
48 No brass or metal handles or ornaments of any kind may be used on a
coffin which is to be used for cremation purposes.
49 The maximum dimensions for any coffin to be used for cremation are:
Length 7 feet, width 2 foot 6inces, depth 1 foot 10inches.
50 The Superintendent may at his discretion postpone any cremation service
where the body arrives so late as to be likely to cause delay to
succeeding services or where the body is contained is an unsuitable
coffin.
THE TRUST WILL ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY LOSS OR EXPENSE
OCCASIONED BY ANY PERSON FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THESE REGULATIONS
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