Cemeteries

1.0 Cemeteries managed by North Northamptonshire Council

North Northamptonshire Council (NNC), like most councils, has a limited amount of burial space within its area. There is no legal duty on a local authority to provide burials space, but this authority has chosen to do so and would wish to do so for as long as possible.

This commitment has been shown through the extension of Rothwell Road Cemetery in Kettering and Shire Lodge Cemetery in Corby. These resources do however only have a finite amount of space, so there is a limited life.

Until such time as the legislation relating to cemeteries changes to permit the reuse of older graves, the burial authority has a responsibility to manage this finite resource responsibly, to ensure that it remains available for the residents of the North Northamptonshire for as long as possible.

There are 11 cemeteries within North Northamptonshire which are open for new burials:

1. Shire Lodge, Corby
2. Rothwell Road, Kettering
3. Burton Latimer
4. Rothwell
5. Desborough
6. Broughton
7. Cransley
8. Pytchley
9. Doddington Road, Wellingborough
10. Finedon
11. Wollaston

Cemetery grounds within the former East Northamptonshire Council area are owned and managed by the Town and Parish Councils not NNC and do not form part of this proposed policy.

For the council’s cemetery fees and charges please contact:

Bereavement Services,
North Northamptonshire Council,
Warren Hill Crematorium,
Rothwell Road,
Kettering,
NN16 8XE

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01536 525722

To ensure that burial space in these cemeteries continues to be managed in the most effective manner, a burial reservation policy is in place.

2.0 Burials

Any person in permanent residence within North Northamptonshire at the time of death may be buried in a cemetery of the council at the basic fees determined in the council’s fees and charges, applicable at that time.

Evidence of current residency will be required at the time of application for burial and will be in the form of utility bill, bank or credit card statement or other official documentation showing the deceased’s name and home address.

Any person not in permanent residence within the borough at the time of death, but who had been resident and been required to move out of the area for circumstances beyond their control (e.g., health care issues, armed forces), subject to evidence of previous residency and reason for relocation in 3.1 below, may be buried in a cemetery of the council at the basic fees determined in the council’s fees and charges.

Any person not in permanent residence within the borough at the time of death and not meeting the requirements of the paragraph above may be buried in a cemetery of the Authority at the basic fees determined in the council’s fees and charges, multiplied by 2.

Where the deceased is a child under 18 years of age, the above paragraphs apply, and evidence of the parent’s residency may be required.

3.0 Reservation of graves

Historically, the council has experienced problems with large numbers of graves being reserved by individuals or families, impacting on the council’s ability to provide and manage burial space within some cemeteries.

There is only a finite amount of land for cemeteries and graves, therefore, it is the responsibility of this council to manage this resource appropriately to ensure that it is available for the longest possible time.

3.1 Reserving a grave before a death has taken place

Only one burial plot per person can be reserved. The fee for this can be found on the schedule of charges, updated annually.

At the time of reservation, the applicant will be required to produce:

• a. Two documents showing the applicant’s name and an address within North Northamptonshire. These documents must be either utility bills (e.g. gas, water, electricity, council tax bill) and a bank statement (including building society or credit card statements).
• b. The applicant will also need to produce a form of photographic identification (e.g. driving licence, passport or similar).

Any person not in permanent residence within the borough, who had been resident and been required to move out of the area for circumstances beyond their control (e.g. health care issues, armed forces), subject to evidence of previous residency and reason for relocation, may reserve a burial plot in a cemetery of the council, at the basic fees determined in the council’s fees and charges, so long as the move has taken place within the previous twelve months.

Burial plots may not be reserved by residents of North Northamptonshire for or on behalf of, non-residents of North Northamptonshire.

3.2 Reserving a grave at the time of death

In many cemeteries within North Northamptonshire, graves can be provided at double depth, thus allowing two internments within one burial plot. However, due to unsafe soil types within Shire Lodge, Rothwell, Desborough, Broughton and Wellingborough cemeteries, the council is unable to dig graves of double depth.

To take account of these circumstances, in these cemeteries the applicant may reserve one adjoining burial plot at the time of arranging the burial. If this is done whilst the burial arrangements are being made, the reservation fee will be waived by the council. The exclusive right of burial for the second grave will still need to be paid at this time.

The above does not apply in cemeteries where double depth graves can be dug. In these cemeteries any reservation requires full payment of the reservation fee.

3.3 Returning an unused grave plot

If a purchasers circumstances change, e.g. they move out of the area, then the purchaser or the family (if the purchaser has died and on completion of the appropriate paperwork to meet legal requirements), can return the plot to general use. 75% of the fee paid at the time of purchase will be refunded to the purchaser or their family when evidence of the purchase has been provided.

4.0 Memorial headstones

4.1 Lawn cemetery

Where the applicant wishes to have a shared memorial between two adjoining graves, one memorial of dimensions not exceeding the dimension specified in the regulations currently in place, may be installed, such that the centre point of the base of the memorial is in line with the centre line of the two graves. No other permanent memorials may be installed within the headstone border of the two graves.

4.2 Traditional cemetery

Where the applicant wishes to have a shared memorial between two adjoining graves, one memorial of dimensions not exceeding the dimension specified in the regulations currently in place, may be installed, such that the centre point of the base of the memorial is in line with the centre line of the two graves.

A kerbset may also be erected over the two spaces, ensuring the centre point of the kerbset is in line with the centre line of the two graves. No other permanent memorials may be installed within the headstone border of the two graves.