IRREGULARITIES at Tavistock Cemetery dating back more than 80 years are to be put under the spotlight — with the aim of making the town council-owned cemetery the best in the west.

Various problems came to light at a recent meeting of the council's burials committee.

They include common burial plots being sold even though they are full, safety rules relating to the scattering of ashes and plot deeds being sold with incorrect time spans.

Brian Brown, new cemetery superintendent, identified that problems had been occuring over time.

Mr Brown said: 'In the past it's been run on the basis of the person coming in learning from the person before.

'I was the first one sent on a course in running cemeteries and from that I picked up certain things that should have been done and haven't been, albeit innocently.'

He stressed the cemetery had always been well-maintained and his aim was to continue this practice and make improvements.

'As problems arise we can sort them out and keep it an efficient cemetery,' he said.

Roger Howard, Tavistock's town clerk, said burial law was very complex.

For example, the scattering of ashes was against Health and Safety regulations.

As the cemetery was a public place, ashes could not be scattered freely as could be done in gardens or on Dartmoor.

Col Howard said: 'It would pose a risk to workers and the public. The turf has to be lifted, the ashes scattered and the turf replaced.'

He said some burial practices have caused problems.

Placing caskets of ashes in a double plot prior to the second burial had been allowed, requiring official permissions to disturb the remains at the time of the final burial.

In addition, shallow graves had been dug on what were due to be double plots, requiring extensive modifications such as a concrete casket at the time of the second burial.

There was also concern over the lack of unconsecrated ground at the cemetery — which is required for non-Anglican burials.

'We may have to ask the vicar to unconsecrate some ground,' Mr Howard said.

And some rights of burial appeared to have been sold 'in perpetuity'.

Col Howard said: 'People don't realise the rights of burial don't go on forever, only for 100 years. They then return to the council.'

Current holders of rights will be informed that they should last for 100 years 'to avoid confusion'.

The 70-year-old maps of the burial ground are to be updated, with a survey being conducted at a cost of £1,200.

Overall, there is only room for 25 years of burial in the cemetery.

Options for the future include removing interred remains and re-using plots or purchasing more land.

Col Howard said a best value scrutiny report was due to be published this month — the council aimed to achieve an Institute of Burial and Cremations Authority Charter Mark within the next couple of years.

Col Howard stressed the cemetery was still 'in a far better state than 99.9% of all the cemeteries in the country.'

He said: 'Things aren't as rosy as people thought they were, but we will individually manage any problems that occur and there is nothing to worry about.

'I have every confidence that we will continue to maintain the best cemetery in Devon,' he said.