Rules and Regulations
Martin and Martin Dales Parish Council
Rules and Regulations for the Parish Burial Ground
The Parish Council of the Parish of Martin, in the District of North Kesteven, makes these Rules and Regulations in their capacity as the Burial Authority for the Parish of Martin
1. The Burial Ground is open to the public daily from dawn until dusk.
2. No vehicles, bicycles or dogs (except assistance dogs) are permitted to enter the Burial Ground at any time
3. The selection of a site for a grave in all cases; both for general interment and purchase, is to be subject to the prior approval of the Burial Authority, delegated to the duly appointed Parish Clerk, but the wishes of the applicant will be met in so far as is practicable.
4. In order to facilitate maintenance, flowers or shrubs should not be planted on graves.
5. The Register of Burials will be maintained and kept by the Parish Clerk who will permit at all reasonable times searches to be made and certified extracts supplied. Fees for these will be as laid down from time to time by the Parish Council.
6. Notice of Interment in the Burial Ground must in the first instance be given to the Parish Clerk who can advise any required information as to choice of position available. The day and hour of burial should, as far as possible, be fixed with the Officiating Person before the Notice of Internment is given to the Clerk. At least 2 days notice, excluding Sunday, must be given.
7. The Notice of Internment is to be in the form provided by the Burial Authority and is to contain a statement as to the individual’s Christian or Forename (s); Surname, the Calling or other Description; their age at death and the Parish in which it occurred; the day and hour of intended burial; the situation of the grave and whether purchased or not.
8. The Parish Clerk will maintain and make available for viewing on request, the plan of burials.
9. The prior consent in writing of the owner of a purchased grave must be deposited with the Clerk, except where the individual to be interred is the registered owner.
10. Internments must be a minimum of 1.3 metres from the surface.
11. Graves are only to be dug by persons approved by the Authority, delegated to the Parish Clerk.
12. All headstones and inscriptions are subject to the prior approval of the Burial Authority and a copy of the inscription and a drawing showing the form and dimensions of each headstone that it is proposed to erect are to be deposited with the Parish Clerk at least one month before work is undertaken. Headstones remain the property of the owner who is responsible for their ongoing maintenance and repair. However, the Burial Authority may order their laying down, on Health and Safety grounds and complete removal if after three months notice, given in writing to the registered owner, the required repairs have not been completed.
13. Headstones or monuments may not be larger than 3 foot 6 inches high or wider than the width of the grave plot. Cremation plots may only be marked with a flat stone 1 foot square.
14. Kerbing is not permitted around new graves, but at the discretion of the Burial Authority may be replaced or extended around graves with existing kerbing.
15. Cremation remains may be interred in the separately designated area, subject to the above rules and conditions for interments.
16. Any person found to have wilfully destroyed or damaged any building, wall or fence or monument; or to have wilfully disturbed any persons assembled; or to have committed any nuisance, within the Burial Ground will be liable to forfeit to the Burial Authority such sum of money as may be determined by the Parish Council.
17. A copy of these Rules and Regulations is to be displayed within the Parish and they are to be reviewed and endorsed every three years.