Regulations & Guidelines

The Crematorium is a member of the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities (F.B.C.A.) which issues strict guidelines (Code of Cremation Practice) to which the Crematorium adheres.

CODE OF CREMATION PRACTICE 

Followed by Westmorland and Furness Council

  1. CONDUCT
    The cremation of a human body is a highly emotional occasion for those taking part in the service. This must never be forgotten by the staff of the Crematorium, who must combine to create and maintain an atmosphere of reverence and respect throughout the entire proceedings.

  2. STAFF
    The greatest care must be taken in the appointment of members of the Crematorium staff, any one of whom may, by conduct or demeanour, detract from the atmosphere of reverence which it is endeavoured to create. All staff employed in the operation of cremators must be suitably trained in the technical and ethical procedures and certified as specified in the Secretary of State’s Guidance Notes of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 or any subsequent legislation made thereunder.

  3.  AFTER COMMITTAL

    ( a ) A body shall not be removed from the Crematorium after the Service of Committal except for a lawful reason    
    ( b ) Subject to receiving the necessary Authority to Cremate, the coffin and its contents shall be put into the cremator, as soon as practicable, exactly as they have been received on the catafalque.  A body not cremated on the same day as the coffin is received at the Crematorium may only be retained on the written consent of the Applicant for cremation and in circumstances deemed necessary by the Cremation Authority, including impacts on the environment. All bodies retained at the crematorium will be accommodated in secure and sanitary conditions within the building.
    ( c ) Once a coffin with its contents has been placed in the cremator, it shall not be touched or interfered with until the process of cremation is completed. On completion the whole of the Cremated Remains/Ashes shall be collected and shall be disposed of in accordance with the instruction received.

  4.  CORRECT IDENTITY

    ( a ) No coffin shall be accepted at any Crematorium unless it bears adequate particulars of the identity of the deceased person contained therein. If a coffin is encased, the cover and the coffin must bear adequate identity of the deceased person.
    ( b ) Every care must be taken to ensure correct identification throughout the whole proceedings from the moment the coffin is received onto the catafalque until the final disposal of the Cremated Remains/Ashes.

  5. SEPARATELY CREMATED

    Each coffin given to the care of the Cremation Authority shall be cremated separately.

  6. COFFIN COVERS

    When a re-useable cover is used to encase a coffin, signed authority must be given by the Applicant for the cremation authorising its use and consenting to its subsequent removal from the Crematorium.

  7. METAL RESIDUES

    Any metal found amongst the Cremated Remains/Ashes shall be disposed of in accordance with the directions of the Cremation Authority or Higher Authority.

  8. CREMATED REMAINS/ASHES

    The utmost care shall be taken to ensure that the Cremated Remains/Ashes, following their removal from the cremator, shall be kept separate and suitably identified. The Cremated Remains/Ashes shall be placed in a separate container awaiting final disposal. If the Cremated Remains/Ashes are to be disposed of in a Garden of Remembrance, this shall be conducted with reverence and respect. Cremated Remains/Ashes to be conveyed by a carrier service should be placed in a suitably labelled robust container and dealt with according to recommendations laid down by the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities.

  9. CREMATORS AND ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT

    Cremators and all other ancillary equipment used in the Crematorium shall be kept in good repair and maintained in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations, and the requirements of the current guidance Notes issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 or subsequent legislation.

  10.  STATUTORY REGULATIONS

    All cremations shall be carried out according to the provisions of the Cremations Acts and the Regulations made thereunder, and any subsequent legislation such as plastic, PVC, etc. are not placed in the coffin and where possible the deceased is dressed in natural clothing.

Registration

All cremations and burials have to be recorded by law.  Traditionally this was in written registers but now all are recorded on computer and retained forever. We are gradually back feeding the old registrations onto the computer system, which will provide a more efficient service.

Grievance Procedure

In the event that you are dissatisfied with our service, please contact the Cemetery Office as soon as possible. If you are still not satisfied please speak or write to the Cemeteries and Crematorium Manager.  If you wish to take the complaint further then this should be in writing to the Community Services Manager at the Town Hall.

Exclusive rights of Burial

When the rights of burial are sold you will receive a signed and sealed grave deed. This allows the person named on the deed to say who can be interred in the grave It is possible to purchase the rights to a grave in advance. You are not purchasing the land as this remains in ownership of Westmorland and Furness Council.

If the grave is to be reopened, the person named on the deeds must give their written consent to the cemetery office.  If the grave owner has died, then the rights need to be transferred to a living owner who is usually their next of kin.  This can be done either by production of Grant of Probate, Letters of Administration or a Will if none of these legal documents are available; a Statutory Declaration has to be completed in the presence of a Magistrate or Commissioner for Oaths.

Where the deed holder is still alive and the burial rights are to be transferred then this can be done via a Form of Assignment.

Dogs

Dog are permitted in the cemetery grounds on a lead  Please be respectful and keep your dog on the paths and away from Graves & memorials Our grounds are also included in the dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996.  Under this act we can prosecute owners who fail to clean up the maximum fine is £75.00.

CEMETERY RULES & REGULATIONS

  1. Hours of Funerals
    With the exception of Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays funerals may take place between the hours of 9.00am and 4.00pm.

  2. Notice of Interment
    For an interment in any grave, 48 working hours notice must be given In writing to the Cemetery Office.

  3. Disposal Certificate
    The Registrar's Certificate or Coroner's Order for Burial must be handed to the Cemetery Office on or before the day of interment.

  4. Coffins
    All coffins must be correctly identified with the name of the deceased. The use of cardboard coffins is acceptable for interment.

  5. Vehicles
    Vehicles are allowed within the Cemetery grounds, as long as they do not cause an obstruction when parked. Vehicles must not park on grassed areas or access across graves.

  6. Cemetery Grounds
    All persons entering the Cemetery grounds do so at their own risk. The Cemetery Manager reserves the right to remove any person deemed to be creating a nuisance in the grounds.

  7. Exclusive Rights of Burial
    No interment may take place or a memorial erected without the written consent of the owner of the exclusive rights of burial to a grave. If the owner is deceased then the ownership must be transferred.

  8. Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977
    By provision of the LACO 1977, no person shall:
    ( a ) wilfully create any disturbance in a Cemetery;
    ( b ) commit any nuisance in a Cemetery;
    ( c ) wilfully interfere with any burial taking place in a Cemetery;
    ( d ) wilfully interfere with any grave, memorial or any plants or any such matter;
    ( e ) play at any game or sport in a Cemetery.

  9. Cycling
    Cycling in the Cemetery grounds is prohibited.

  10. Dogs
    Dogs must be on a leash and any fouling must be removed.

  11. Children
    Children under the age of 16 are not permitted within the Cemetery grounds unless accompanied by an adult.

  12. Gratuities
    Members of staff are forbidden to accept gratuities.

  13. Grave planting
    The Council will permit members of the public to plant their own grave within an 18" x 12"; border at the head of the grave. The remainder of the grave plot will be turfed flat and maintained within the general maintenance programme. Planting is not permitted on the cremation graves.

  14. Fences/Surrounds
    Fences are not permitted on the grave. The Council reserves the right to remove any fencing, surround or other obstruction that interferes with the efficient maintenance of the grave.

  15. Babies Section
    If the family do not wish to purchase the Right of Burial to a baby grave the rights remain with the Council. However, the family are permitted to place a memorial on the grave and any mementoes. The grave will be turfed flat unless the family make it known that they wish to maintain the grave themselves.

  16. Personal Items
    The Council do not accept responsibility for any personal items which families place on their graves.

  17. Woodland Burial
    This area is for those people who do not wish to place a headstone on their grave, or to visit the grave. Any materials or other markings placed on the grave will be removed.

MEMORIAL REGULATIONS

  1. Insurance
    All monumental masons undertaking work in the Cemeteries must have adequate Public Liability Insurance. The current value required may be ascertained by application to the Cemetery Office.

  2. Applications
    An application, signed by the owner of the Exclusive Right of Burial, with a drawing of the proposed memorial showing dimensions and a copy of all instructions must be submitted to the Cemetery Office and approved before any memorial can be erected. With the exception of baby graves memorials may only be placed on a grave space for which the exclusive right of burial has been purchased. The mason must be registered on the Council’s Memorial Scheme and be a member of NAMM.

  3. Erection of Memorial
    Before fixing any memorials, all stonemasons must contact the Cemetery Office and submit the appropriate permit. The mason must allow a minimum 7 working days for the permit to be processed.

  4. Size
    No memorial shall exceed:

    Headstones 914mm in height
    914mm in width
    152mm in depth
    Kerbstones 2133mm in length
    914mm in width
    152mm in depth
    Cremation Headstones 610mm in height
    610mm in width
    Cremation Kerbstones 1877 > 610mm in width
    762mm in length
    101mm in depth
    Cremation Kerbstones 1 - 1876 610mm in width
    457mm in length
    101mm in depth
    Vase for full graves 254mm x 254mm x 254mm
    Cremation & tree vases 152mm x 152mm x 152mm
    Standard tablet & books 457mm x 457mm x 152mm
    Small tablet 152mm x 254mm x 152mm
    desk to tablets 457mm x 457mm x 152mm

  5. Kerbstones
    Kerbstones are permitted if supplied and fixed by an approved Monumental mason. When fitted the kerbstones must not be raised above the 152mm height.
    All other edgings are not allowed and will be removed by the cemetery staff.

  6. Position
    Headstones shall be fixed at the head of the grave in the space provided and nowhere else.

  7. Identification
    ( a ) The number and section of the grave should be plainly marked on the memorial.
    ( b ) The name of the monumental mason may be marked on the back of the memorial.

  8. Removals
    Any memorial removed for interment must be removed from the area. Before reinstating the mason must ensure that the grave number is marked on the memorial.

  9. Surplus
    The monumental mason must remove all surplus earth or debris and leave the area clean and tidy.

  10. Approvals
    The Council reserve the right not to approve any memorial or inscription which they deem unsuitable.

  11. Foundations
    All memorials must be fixed onto a permanent foundation and be securely fitted in accordance with the National Association of Monumental Mason’s method of fixing.

  12. Hours of Work
    Stonemasons are only permitted to work between the hours of 8.00am and 5.00 pm
    Monday to Friday. No work may take place outside these hours including Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays without prior authorisation from the Cemetery Office.
    Masons will be expected to suspend work in the cemeteries if a funeral is taking place in same area.

CREMATORIUM RULES & REGULATIONS

  1. Statutory Requirements
    All Cremations will be carried out as required by the Cremation Acts 1952 and the Cremation Regulations 1930 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

  2. Notice of Cremation
    A notice of Cremation must be handed to the Cemetery Office seventy two working hours prior to the Cremation.

  3. Statutory Documents
    All statutory forms must be handed to the Cemetery Office no later than 3.00pm two working days prior to Cremation.

  4. Medical Referee
    No Cremation may take place without written authorisation from the Medical Referee in Cremation Form 10.

  5. Hours of Service
    With the exception of Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays, Cremations may take place between the hours of 9.00am and 4.00pm.

  6. Instructions to Funeral Directors
    The Federation of Burial & Cremation Authorities (FBCA) have issued guidelines in their “Instructions to Funeral Directors”, and these instructions are applicable at the Crematorium.

  7. Crematory
    No unauthorised person shall be permitted to enter the Crematory without prior arrangement with the Crematorium Manager.

  8. Crematorium and Grounds
    All persons entering the Crematorium and grounds do so at their own risk. The Crematorium Manager reserves the right to remove any persons deemed to be creating a nuisance in the Crematorium and grounds.

  9. Children
    Children under the age of sixteen are not allowed into the Crematorium and grounds unless accompanied by a Responsible adult.

  10. Floral Tributes
    Floral tributes will be placed in the area provided after the Funeral. If not removed by the Funeral Directors or members of the family, they will be disposed of a week after the funeral, or as instructed by the Cemeteries and Crematorium Manager.

  11. Cremated Remains
    ( a ) Cremated Remains may be removed from theCrematorium by the applicant for the Funeral or their Representative.
    ( b ) Temporary deposit – Cremated Remains may be held at the Crematorium for a period of 1 month free of charge, after which time they will be strewn in the Glade of Remembrance.
    ( c )Remains may only be removed from the Crematorium in a container approved by the Cemeteries and Crematorium Manager.

  12. Code of Cremation
    All cremations are carried out in accordance with the FBCA Code of Cremation Practice.

  13. Book of Remembrance
    The Book of Remembrance is available to view daily from 8.00 am until the Cemetery gates are closed.

  14. Memorial Plaques
    Memorial plaques must only be ordered through the Cemetery Office. The Council reserves the right to alter or refuse any plaque which is deemed unsuitable.

  15. Zinc/Lead Coffins
    Any cremation to take place where the deceased died abroad, requires the deceased to be transferred to a coffin which is not zinc or lead lined.