Consultation

East Herts District Council is currently consulting on its proposal to promote a Bill on behalf of Bishop's Stortford Town Council to enable the more extensive reuse of burial space than is currently possible, in order to ensure that space is available beyond the mid 2030s and for the foreseeable future.  This follows an earlier consultation by the Town Council.  Comments must be received no later than 10th October 2022.  A copy of the consultation document appears below (Burial Space Consultation - EHDC) and the previous consultation 'Bishop's Stortford Cemetery Act - Consultation - V2' also appears below

General Information

Bishop’s Stortford Town Council manages the two Cemeteries in Cemetery Road.  The Council’s outdoor workforce carries out routine maintenance and gardening to ensure that the Cemeteries provide a clean and peaceful environment in which residents and visitors to the Town can spend quiet and reflective moments.

Three sections of the Old Cemetery have been re-opened using small previously used areas. Burial interments may be made in the lawned area or in the area where kerbing is permitted. There is also an area to lay ashes to rest in a quiet section where small headstones are permitted. 

Burial interments may be made in the lawned New Cemetery and two additional sections for the laying to rest of ashes have been established. These are situated at the front of the New Cemetery where small headstone memorials are permitted and beside the main path where tablet memorials are permitted.

The Town Council is able to offer a simple process for the laying to rest of a loved one's ashes by the family. However it does not arrange for flowers or a Minister to be present but the family may chose to do this. Please refer to the information leaflets below or contact the Cemetery Administrator for advice and help.

It is now possible to apply for permission to scatter the ashes of a loved one in the Old Cemetery Remembrance Garden or on a family grave (with the registered owners permission) and to site a memorial bench where space permits. There is also a Remembrance Memorial section in the New Cemetery for those wishing to place a memorial to a loved one without an interment taking place.

The Chapel in the Old Cemetery is available to book for small services or small gatherings. Please see our Application Form for use of the Cemetery Chapel.

For further information and fees, please contact the Cemetery Administrator Lesley Howell on 01279 712148 (lesley.howell@bishopsstortfordtc.gov.uk)

The postal and satnav address is:
Cemetery Lodge, 109 Apton Road, Bishop's Stortford, Herts, CM23 3UE.

The cemeteries are open from 7.30am - 8.00pm (May to September) and 7.30am - sunset (October to April). Please note that from 14.06.2021 the Cemetery Gate leading to the Firs will only be open between the hours of 10.00am - 14.00pm Monday to Friday only for security reasons.