Sunderland City Council’s Cemeteries and Crematorium Service welcomes ideas from its customers as to how it can continually improve the service that it provides. Below is a selection of those ideas which have been suggested by customers.

An on-line booking system should be provided for Burial and Cremation services. Application form should be available on-line?

The provision of an on-line booking has been investigated but cannot be provided at present due to some software compatibility issues.

The more common Application Forms are now available on the sunderland.gov.uk website at: http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/Public/Editable/Life-Episodes/DWAD/Master/Forms-pdf.asp

It is sometimes difficult to hear the funeral service in the Crematorium Chapel. An amplification system is required.

Microphones and a low level 'PA' system have been installed.

There should be a large litter bin for flowers and rubbish in Washington Cemetery

Large wheeled bins have been introduced in other cemeteries, however the steeply sloping narrow paths in Washington prevents the safe use of wheeled bins.

Men of all ages are allowed to congregate drinking alcohol in the (Houghton) cemetery which could be intimidating for visitors

This issue has been raised with the Police. Some shrubs andtrees have been cut back to reduce cover.

Lawn section regulations are too strict and full size kerbs should be allowed on graves

The design of the kerb must not impede access for visitors particularly those who may have limited mobility, and must allow safe access for bearers to convey a coffin to any of the other graves in the area. In consideration of these points we require that the overall length of the kerb is limited to 5 feet on a standard 9 foot long grave (max length of 4 feet is on 8 foot long grave) measured from the back of the memorial.

Would it be possible to have a plan of Mere Knolls Cemetery at the pedestrian entrance?

Cemetery plans are available for Mere Knolls Cemetery at the Dykelands Road and Torver Crescent entrances. The pedestrian entrance off Dovedale Road is not considered a suitable site for a plan at this time.

As well as Mere Knolls, cemetery plans are also available at Houghton Cemetery. The service will also consider the provision of cemetery plans at other cemeteries in the City as and when sign renewal in these cemeteries is undertaken.

There is too much litter in Grangetown Cemetery. Can something be done about this?

A regular programme of litter picks is undertaken. Cemetery Supervisors will monitor litter levels and take appropriate action where required. This applies to all other cemeteries in the City as well as Grangetown.

Can you provide some more seats for visitors to Grangetown Cemetery?

An assessment of seating has been undertaken in the cemetery and a number of seats have been repositioned to give a better spread of seating across the cemetery.

The time being taken to issue Grave Deeds is too long, often up to two months. What can be done to improve this?

Subject to legal formalities, grave deeds are now issued within a month.

Why can’t the charges for a cremation on a Saturday be the same as Monday – Friday?

The service incurs higher costs on a Saturday. Staff costsfor weekend working are higher and fewer services take place.

Cremation Statutory Declarations are complicated forms, can anything be done to simplify the process of filling them in?

A number of forms were being completed incorrectly. Guidance notes to assist completion of the forms have now been produced and are sent out with each form. How successful this is in eliminating errors will be monitored by the service.

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last updated 13/04/07