Crematorium regulations

Everyone should follow the rules of the supervisors. The supervisors can stop people from being in the crematorium building if they need.

The crematorium will be open to the public on days and times that the Council says. Times might change. If times change, we will put notices up on the crematorium building.

The outside areas of the crematorium are called the Gardens of Remembrance. These gardens are open all year round. If they need to be closed, we will put notices up on the crematorium building.

Garden opening hours

Monday to Sunday, including public holidays:

• January, February, November, December – 7.30am to 4.00pm - gates close at 4.30pm
• March, October - 7.30am to 5.30pm - gates close at 6.00pm
• June, July, August - 7.30am to 7.30pm - gates close at 8.00pm

Chapel open hours (public)

The crematorium chapels will be open to the public at the following time (Monday to Friday only):

• South Chapel – Full services 9.30am to 4.30pm
• West Chapel -  Full services 9.00am to 4.00pm

All persons should act well, and in a quiet and sensible way.

No person should:

• Create any disturbance in the crematorium on purpose.
• Make a nuisance in the crematorium.
• Interfere with any cremation or interment of ashes taking place in the crematorium.
• Interfere with any memorial or any flowers or plants or similar things
• Play games or sports in the crematorium.

Visitors should not stop the workers at the crematorium. Visitors should not ask the workers to do private work for them. Visitors should not give gifts or money to any workers. Visitors that want to complain should tell the cemetery office workers. You can also email or phone the cemetery office to complain.

No animals are allowed to enter the Garden of Remembrance other than dogs on a lead. Only service animals may enter the memorial hall or service chapels.

Children under the age of 12 are not allowed in the crematorium on their own. They should be with a responsible adult.No one should sell or offer to sell any item in the crematorium

Visitors should use the paths in the grounds. You can travel on the grass if you are going to a memorial or for a burial or scattering of ashes.

No visitors should take, damage or change memorial plants, shrubs, trees or soil.Rubbish should not be left loose in the grounds. If you have rubbish, please use the bins.

Photographs and videos are not allowed in the grounds unless the manager says it is ok.

No one should smoke or vape in the building, or near where ashes are being buried or scattered.

No worker should ask for gifts or money.

Cremations should follow the cremation rules. These rules are made by the Secretary of State for the Home Office. Workers should follow the code of cremation practice made by the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities (also known as the FBCA).

Cremation services can take place between 8:30am and 4pm Monday to Friday.

No cremation should happen on a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday, Public Holidays. In special cases the manager can allow cremations to happen on a Saturday.

The time given for a cremation is the time that the funeral should arrive at the chapel, or crematorium entrance. The Funeral Director or person in charge of the funeral must do what the manager or cemetery staff ask.

The Funeral Director should make sure that the funeral arrives in good time. They should make sure that the mourners are in the chapel at the right time. The usual service time strictly 45 minutes in total. The chapel is held for the service for 60 minutes. This time starts and is shown on the daily list. This list is outside of the chapel. Funeral Directors should be aware of time and be efficient. They should make sure that the service is not affected by poor organisation. The funeral director should ask for extra time if they need to do extra activities before the funeral. Sometimes we cannot give extra time.

We may ask to stop any noise activity that can cause a disturbance. We want to make sure that for safety and wellbeing the grounds and chapels are not too noisy. This is to help everyone that visits the crematorium and gardens.

The funeral director should tell us before the funeral if there might be too much noise from something. The funeral director should make sure the noise does not affect other services of visitors. If it is music, like bagpipes, the person playing the music should be aware of the rules.

The playing of music can happen when the cortege (funeral cars) comes through the entrance gates. Music should stop once the cortege stops outside of the Chapel. Music can start again when the mourners exit the chapel.

Playing bagpipes, bugles, or other loud instruments is not allowed inside. The funeral director can check before the funeral if other instruments are allowed to be played.

Motorbikes or other vehicles can escort the cortege on the driveway. All vehicles must not make too much noise. This includes revving the engine, make the wheels spins, and using horns.

Each cremation slot is for 60 minutes from the start time. The funeral director should arrange before the funeral any changes if they need to. Sometimes there are extra fees for changes. Services are limited to 45 minutes (for music and speaking). This gives 10 minutes to enter and exit the chapel.

Every cremation should be booked in. All paperwork for the cremation must be provided to the cemetery office. The paperwork should be provided to the office at least 5 working days before the funeral. If this does not happen, we might not be able to allow the funeral. If there is a special case the manager can allow paperwork to be provided within the 5 working days.

The Council is not responsible for verbal agreements. Agreements should be confirmed in writing by the crematorium or cemetery office.

The council is not responsible for what might happen arising from the loss or delay of any such request. The council is not responsible for the information given to us on the Preliminary Notice for Cremation.

All paperwork should be provided to the office at least 5 working days before the funeral. If this does not happen, we might not be able to allow the funeral. If there is a special case the manager can allow paperwork to be provided within the 5 working days.