Approved Revised Cemetery Regs and Charges March 2025

FEN DITTON PARISH COUNCIL

CEMETERY REGULATIONS Approved March 04, 2025

This pack includes the following documents for use in connection with reservation of a grave space in the Fen Ditton Village Cemetery. The pack is to be kept by the Parish Clerk along with the plan of the cemetery and the completed documents when a grave space is purchased.

The cemetery is for Fen Ditton residents, to qualify the person or persons in question must have been on the South Cambridge District council RA1 or RA2 electoral register for at least 5 out of the past 10 years.

There is no longer provision to ‘reserve’ a plot in advance. Agreements concerning a plot already reserved will continue to be honoured.

The fees are more in line with other facilities however, they are now ring-fenced for the long term maintenance and any improvements of the cemetery, with the exception of the actual graves which remain the responsibility of the families.

Various rules have been tightened over the years: whilst it is neither appropriate nor feasible to retrospectively apply these to extant graves, evidence contrary to those rules does not imply precedence for future requests.

It is strongly advise not to make funeral arrangements until you have conformation of an available plot in writing from the parish clerk, and please note the clerk works part time and there may be a delay in responding.

  1. Cemetery Rules approved by Fen Ditton Parish Council on March 04, 2025.

  2. Template letter to be used when a plot is reserved

  3. Formal Document Grant of Exclusive Right of Burial to be sent to purchaser on reservation of plot

  4. File record of reservation of plot.

  5. Charges

FEN DITTON PARISH COUNCIL

CEMETERY REGULATIONS

approved by Parish Council March 04, 2025

The public is reminded that the provisions of the Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977 apply to this cemetery. Under the provisions of the Order referred to above, Fen Ditton Parish Council (the Council) being the burial authority for the Parish has also agreed:

  1. A request for a plot will only be considered for someone who has been on the South Cambridge District council RA1 or RA2 electoral register for at least 5 out of the past 10 years or directly related to a person so registered.

  2. A burial cannot take place until all the appropriate paperwork has been received. This is either a registrar’s certificate (‘green form’), a registrar’s certificate of non-liability (‘white form’), or a coroner’s order. This will be filed in-perpetuity.

  3. A Plot may be either single or double depth. The Exclusive Right of Burial form issued when the plot is purchased is required for re-opening the plot. If the deed has been lost, a statutory declaration must be made.

  4. The location of the plot will be made entirely at the discretion of the Council.

  5. No permanent memorial may be erected until 12 months after the burial. A sketch of any proposed memorial, with full dimensions, materials and inscription, must be submitted to the Council for approval before arrangements are made. If approval is granted a fee is payable.

  6. The permanent memorial shall be made of stone or wood and shall be a headstone not larger than 1 metre (3’4”) high, 15cm (6”) thick and shall be no wider than the width of the plot and the base shall not project above the surface of the ground. The Plot number shall be inscribed on the rear of the headstone at the top.

  7. Beyond a memorial stone or tablet, no further permanent embellishment of any kind (for example, but not limited to, a kerb, railings or chippings) shall be included around or within any memorial, and no temporary such embellishment (e.g. wooden border) may remain in place beyond 12 months from the date of burial. This is because it makes maintenance of your plot and the cemetery in general difficult and expensive.

  8. Memorials on plots for cremated remains shall be tablets 45.5cm x 45.5cm (18” x 18”) maximum and may be placed on a slab to raise them above ground level, overall being no more than 23cm (9”) high. Memorial vases shall be free-standing (unless incorporated within the memorial tablet) to enable removal for grass cutting.

  9. A vase for flowers is allowed at the head of the grave in place of the memorial stone. No trees or shrubs may be planted on or around a grave.

  10. Families are encouraged to look after graves and memorials and are responsible for insurance to cover any third party liability arising therefrom.  Because the Cemetery is a public open space the Council cannot be held responsible for any damage to or theft from graves or memorials.  These are all uninsured and the Council will not normally undertake any replacement or repair.

  11. Dead flowers, wreaths and other items which have deteriorated or become unsightly must be disposed of in the area provided. Anything placed and planted on any grave other than a headstone/tablet may be removed and disposed of at the Council’s discretion without the Council being liable to account for any proceeds of disposal.

  12. The Parish Council has the right to take action to maintain neglected graves and memorials that it deems unsafe or unsightly.  The Parish Council accepts responsibility for maintaining and insuring the Cemetery paths, fences and open areas.

  13. Memorials are regularly inspected for safety. The primary responsibility for their maintenance and safety remains with the owner or their heirs at law. However, if a memorial becomes a danger and the owner does not fulfil this responsibility, or cannot be located, the memorial may need to be laid down. This will be done in a respectful manner and a sign, asking the grave owner to contact the Parish Council, will be attached to the memorial.

I have read the above and agree to abide by the Rules

Signed ………………………………….. Dated ………………………………….

FEN DITTON PARISH COUNCIL

CEMETERY REGULATIONS

Indira Hui Raha– Parish Clerk

1st Floor     
The Hanger Building
2 Jubilee Square
Marleigh Avenue
Cambridge, CB5 8UW

Address of recipient

Dear

I enclose the Grant of Exclusive Right of Burial for a Burial Plot purchased in Fen Ditton Cemetery.

Please keep this document in a safe place.

Also enclosed are two copies of the cemetery regulations. Please read and sign them and return one signed copy to me.

If you have any queries or require further information, do contact me at the above address, I shall be very pleased to help in any way I can.

Yours sincerely

Clerk to the Parish Council

Grant number ….

FEN DITTON PARISH COUNCIL

GRANT OF EXCLUSIVE RIGHT OF BURIAL

By virtue of the powers conferred by section 214 of the Local Government Act 1972 and of the Order made by the Secretary of State thereunder, WE, the Parish Council of Fen Ditton in the County of Cambridgeshire in consideration of the sum of £ ……………………………………………….

paid to us by ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

of ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

(herein called “the Grantee”) DO HEREBY GRANT to the Grantee and his/her successors in title the exclusive right of burial in a grave space in Fen Ditton Cemetery made in pursuance of the said Act and Order TO HOLD the same to the Grantee and his/her successors in title for the period of 100 years from the date of this grant, for the purpose of burial only.

IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that the transaction hereby effected does not form part of a larger transaction or of a series of transactions in respect of which the amount or value of the aggregate amount or value of the consideration exceeds £60,000.

GIVEN under my hand this ………….. day of ……………………..

Signed …………………………………………………………………………….

(Designation)……………………………………………………………….. (The officer appointed for this purpose)

Note: This Grant is subject to the provisions of any Order made under section 214 of the Local Government Act 1972. A copy of any such Order currently in force may be inspected at all reasonable times at the office of the officer who signed the grant.

FEN DITTON PARISH COUNCIL

CEMETERY REGULATIONS

Reservation of a Plot at Fen Ditton Cemetery

1. Name: [M/F]

2. Full address:

4. Burial: single /double; Cremated remains: single /double

5. Number of Grant of Exclusive Right of Burial:

A plot is reserved for 100 years in the first instance.

Fee paid:

Receipt number:

Reservation accepted ………………………………………………………………….. Parish Clerk

Dated:

Grant of Exclusive Rights of Burial Issued [ ]

Cemetery Rules issued [ ]

Change of address:

FEN DITTON PARISH COUNCIL

CEMETERY REGULATIONS

Charges

Please note that the total charge for an adult or ashes interment comprises three components: Right to burial, Interment, and grave digging. The charges below cover the first two of these, which are payable to the Parish Council. The Parish Council has no control over the cost or arrangements of grave digging.

Interment Fees

Total

Purchase of exclusive right of burial of an adult grave

£396

First interment adult

£308

Purchase of ashes plot

£198

First Interment

£66

Interment fee for any subsequent opening.

As for first interment

Purchase and interment for stillborn or child under 2 (total cost).

Nil

Purchase and interment for child under 18 (total cost).

£275

Headstones, Tablets and Inscriptions

For the right to erect a headstone 1 metre in height.

£225

For the right to place a flat tablet flush with the surface of the ground.

£77

For the right to place on any headstone or tablet additional inscription after the first.

£49

For the right to place a permanent wooden cross not exceeding one metre in height.

£49

Accessibility by WAH