BOROUGH OF MITCHAM ROAD & QUEENS ROAD ENQUIRIES TO: OFFICE MITCHAM ROAD, CROYDON CR9 3AT RECLAIMED TEL: 020 8684 3877 FAX: 020 8689 7795 EMAIL: [email protected] GRAVES

BURIAL FACILITIES IN CROYDON Those who are bereaved with a preference for burial have a very limited choice of grave types within Croydon due to land shortages. There are no new graves available at either Mitcham Road or Queens Road cemeteries; new graves are available at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Warlingham. This is a beautiful park setting with ground level bronze plaques on graves. To maintain this appearance it is important to be aware that no traditional memorials can be placed on the graves. Greenlawn’s is also 10 miles from North Croydon and has poor public transport links. The Council realise that this cemetery is inconvenient for over a quarter of Croydon residents who do not possess their own transport (2001 Census data). The Council is also aware that many residents want to be interred within or close to their neighbourhood. This inters the deceased in a familiar setting and is convenient for family and friends to visit the grave. As a “green” issue, it also reduces road travel for the funeral cortege and all subsequent grave visits, as well as reducing personal expense. To meet these important needs and expand choice for the bereaved, proposals have been agreed to reclaim unused space in old graves at Mitcham Road and Queens Road cemetery in North Croydon. This is part of a wider policy to create cemeteries that can be re-used perpetually. It will prevent Croydon's cemeteries becoming excessively large and progressively neglected as maintenance charges increase. As these charges are passed to the bereaved as part of the burial fees, re-using space will hold down fees and contribute to lower funeral costs for Croydon residents.

THE CONDITIONS Each grave is reclaimed with great care. Graves are only used where the owner is deceased, no burial has occurred for at least 75 years and the grave is unvisited and neglected. Each grave will have space remaining for one, two or rarely three burials. Only this unused space will be used and no previously interred remains will be disturbed or moved in any way. The grave is only reclaimed after extensive attempts to contact the previous grave owner have occurred, including news- paper advertising. As the law no longer allows Croydon Council to sell a Right of Burial in perpetuity (for ever), a period of 50 years has been agreed. Towards the end of this period, the right can be extended for a fee. If a family member contin- ues to extend the Right, it can remain with an individual family for many generations. Although you purchase the Right for this period, the ownership of the ground still remains with Croydon Council. The fee for the right of burial is lowest where a grave for one burial is required. This is the ideal choice for single people, whom comprise one third of Croydon residents (2001 Census data). The costs increase for deeper graves to accommodate two or more burials. It is also important to note that old graves are just 4’ (1200mm) wide and a maximum coffin width of 2’ 6” (750mm) can be accommodated with- out compromising safety. It is important to note that a casket can replace a coffin but only if it is no wider than 2’ 6” (750mm) including handles and fittings and no longer than 7’ 0” (2100mm). We cannot guarantee that the grave will accommodate more than one casket, further burial space may only be available for coffins: (for further information please contact the cemetery office).

GRAVE CHOICE The graves may be located in various parts of Queens Road and Mitcham Road cemetery. Each area is different and you are welcome to contact Bereavement Services and arrange to choose a grave in a location suitable to you. For instance, your decision might depend upon the proximity of bus routes, entrance gates, footpath access, the nearness of water taps and litter bins or of vehicle parking. ACCESS TO THE GRAVE & FACILITIES The reclaimed graves are situated on old grave areas and pedestrian access, though always possible, is often re- stricted by existing old memorials. Roadside graves are rare and few hard surfaced level paths are present. It is not possible to add new paths to these areas as they would have to be placed over graves, which is not ethically ac- ceptable. Where wheelchair access is essential, this should be made known to staff and care taken to choose a grave in an accessible location. Toilets are available at the crematorium (for Mitcham Road cemetery) and at Queens Road cemetery (only open when the grounds person is on site; this does not include the weekend or evenings). Please note: old memorials can be dangerous, please keep clear at all times.

THE FUNERAL SERVICE If you do not have a regular church, you can hold the funeral service in our Mitcham Road chapel or in one of our two crematorium chapels (fee payable). We recognise that almost a quarter of people in Croydon profess no religion (2001 Census data) and these chapels are ideal for secular (non-religious) funerals. The chapels at Queens Road cemetery are currently closed although proposals to refurbish them are being considered.

WREATHS The funeral wreaths are removed no sooner than 21 days after the funeral. If you prefer, you can remove the wreaths yourself and place them by a litter basket for collection. If you wish to retain the cards placed on the wreaths, please do this before 21 days has elapsed. When the wreaths are removed, it is sometimes difficult to recognise the grave position afterwards. You can erect a small cross or other marker if this is a concern to you.

MEMORIAL SEATS We have very few memorial seats in Queens Road and Mitcham Road cemeteries. If you would like to commemorate a seat in memory of your loved one, please contact us in order to identify a suitable location.

CEMETERY OPENING & CLOSING TIMES The cemeteries open at 9am every day of the year including holidays and Christmas. Closing times are: JANUARY 5pm APRIL 7pm JULY 7pm OCTOBER 7pm FEBRUARY 5pm MAY 7pm AUGUST 7pm NOVEMBER 5pm MARCH 5pm JUNE 7pm SEPTEMBER 7pm DECEMBER 5pm

THE FINAL PART OF THIS FORM IS ABOUT THE MEMORIAL AND MEMORIAL RIGHTS – PLEASE STUDY THESE DETAILS CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU COMMIT YOURSELF TO CHOOSING A MEMORIAL

THE MEMORIAL – GIVING YOU THE WIDEST CHOICE In order to offer the widest choice, you can choose any memorial you wish providing it is within the overall size limitations set by the Council. You can obtain a memorial through your funeral director or any other mason. Memorials can be expensive, particularly if you combine a headstone with kerbs around the grave. It is wise to obtain a number of quotes for the supply before you make your final decision. Although memorials are usually in stone, you can choose wood, concrete edgings or some other agreed material if you prefer. These materials can be used if you cannot afford a traditional memorial or if you prefer to make your own. There is a fee for Right to place a memorial, and an application fully describing the memorial and giving details of its safe erection is required by the council. The application for the permit can be done for you by any memorial mason you choose. If you require a particularly large or heavy memorial, we may need to find you a grave in a suitable location. This will require a secure foundation to ensure it does not pose a danger to graves excavated in the vicinity. Please note that if vandalism occurs, the grave owner is responsible. Insurance can be arranged through your mason. NB: Please note that all graves sink after burial, particularly after heavy rain. This is simply settlement as the soil refills air pockets and it is not due to the collapse of the coffin. At least SIX MONTHS should elapse after the burial before any memorial is placed, to enable the ground to settle, otherwise, it is difficult to keep the memorial upright and safe. MEMORIAL RIGHTS & ASSOCIATED GRAVE MAINTENANCE

When a memorial is purchased, the memorial mason has a common law responsibility for it to be erected safely for a minimum 30 years. It is, however, the owner of the grave Right who is indefinitely responsible for the safe erection and maintenance of the memorial. Over time and with the death of the grave owner, this responsibility often falls on the landowner, usually the local Council. Croydon Council is now responsible for many thousands of unsafe memorials in Queens Road and Mitcham Road cemeteries. As unsafe memorials have caused many injuries and a number of child deaths in the U.K., Croydon Council cannot allow this situation to continue.

In view of this, although the Right of Burial for the grave is sold to the grave purchaser for 50 years, the Right to place a memorial is separate and dependent upon the type of memorial erected. Memorials which are stable and safe, which means not reliant upon metal dowels and cement, qualify for the full 50 year term. Memorials made of several pieces of stone held together by dowels and cement are given the shorter period of 30 years, the minimum safe period recog- nised in common law. This type of memorial particularly includes kerb sets, small books and pedestals, all of which contain many joints.

When the memorial Right ceases after 30 or 50 years, you or your heirs can extend it providing the memorial is inspect- ed by an approved memorial mason and a certificate of safe erection for a prescribed period obtained. If the memorial Right is not extended, as soon as the memorial becomes unsafe it will be removed and destroyed.

The grave maintenance and memorial right will depend on the type of memorial you desire and you can choose from the following two types:

1. LAWN STYLE – this has a memorial situated at the head of the grave with dimensions no greater than 3’ 6” (1050mm) high, 3’ 0” (900mm) wide & 2’ 0” (600mm) deep, perhaps with vases in the base section, the remainder of the grave being under lawn. Head stones and open book type memorials fit into this category.

MEMORIAL RIGHT – this will be for 30 years only, as the joints include dowels and cement. If you ask your mason to place a ground anchor to a headstone, which makes it very secure, or if the memorial is made of one piece of stone (called a monolith) with one third sunk in the ground, the Right can be extended to 50 years.

GRAVE MAINTENANCE – the council will maintain the grass area for the 50 year period of the grave right. The current maintenance standard is a fortnightly mowing, a total of sixteen times per year. The clippings are not collected and remain on the grave area. This is an average level of maintenance and is not a “bowling green” standard.

2. TRADITIONAL STYLE – if you prefer a larger memorial or a kerb surround, or if you wish to create a garden over the grave, it will be classed as a traditional grave. The memorial or any form of surround must not exceed 3’ (900mm) wide x 6’6” (1950mm) long. As most graves are 4’ (1200mm) wide, this allows a 12” (300mm) space between each memorial as a pathway. Tall growing shrubs and trees must not be planted upon graves.

MEMORIAL RIGHT – this will be for 30 years because such memorials usually contain many joints, dowels and cement. However, if you choose a memorial made of one piece of stone extending over the full grave, the Right may be extended to 50 years.

GRAVE MAINTENANCE – the council will not complete any maintenance within the curtilage of the grave or on any garden area. The grave must be maintained by and at the full cost of the owner of the Grave Right. Because it is impossible to get large mowers onto grave plots with traditional memorials, the grass around the memorial will be cut using strimmers. These tend to throw cuttings over memorials and you should keep this point in mind when choosing a memorial. For instance, if the grass clippings fall on chippings, they can be difficult and time consuming to remove. FEES & CHARGES (1/4/2017– 31/3/2018)

1. Purchase of Right of Burial for 50 years

Reclaimed grave for maximum of one burial = 1595.00 Reclaimed grave for maximum of two burials = 1770.00

2. Additional fees for non-resident of Croydon

Reclaimed grave for maximum of one burial = 1595.00 Reclaimed grave for maximum of two burials = 1770.00 Interment supplement (if the deceased was non-resident) = 420.00

3. Interment fee depth for one or two burial = 1030.00

This includes excavating the grave, shoring, dressing with grass matting, backfilling, placing the flowers and re-instating the grave as it sinks over subsequent years.

4. Additional fee for casket interment (in place of coffin) = 450.00

This fee covers the increased excavation and safety requirements if a casket is to be interred. The casket size cannot exceed 2’ 6” in width including handles, fittings, etc. (Note: A maximum of one casket per grave is permitted at Mitcham Road Cemetery, no caskets are permitted at Queen’s Road Cemetery)

5. Right to place a memorial fee = 435.00

This fee includes the right to place a memorial on any grave and the permit fee for a new memorial.

6. Fee for each subsequent inscription on the memorial = 105.00

This fee covers checking the memorial: Receiving, checking and processing the application: Issuing a permit and registering the details.