Havant Borough Council > Advice and Benefits

This page is a summary of our most frequently asked questions about death & bereavement. For more detailed information please see our Cemeteries Information Pack leaflets on this site (also available in hard copy from the address above).

Where are the council's Cemeteries?

Can you help me find a relative's grave?

Yes. All we need is a full name and an idea of the date of burial. If they are buried in one of the Council's cemeteries, we will be happy to assist contact Cemeteries on (023) 9244 6425.

Can I reserve a cemetery plot?

Unfortunately, due to limited space, it is not possible to reserve a cemetery plot at any of the Borough's cemeteries. No pre- purchase is available.

Can I choose a plot?

We only use the next available plot as this helps to keep the plots even and makes turfing and maintenance easier. If there is a problem for disabled access we will try to help.

Why are graves left so long before being levelled and seeded?

Firstly, to let the ground settle after an interment. Secondly,seed is normally sown during the naturally wet periods of Spring and Autumn to give it the best possible chance of establishing. The Borough cemeteries are in areas of poor water supply, so it is not possible to water the graves using sprinklers.

There are lots of benches bearing plaques in cemeteries, where do they come from?

In the past, these were donated by members of the public. Unfortunately, there is no longer enough space for us to install more benches. Ways of overcoming this problem are being investigated and the service may be available again in the future.

Can I sponsor a commemorative tree?

The Cemeteries at this time do not have any space for additional trees to be planted. Should this situation change information will be given on this page.

When can I visit a cemetery?

On foot at any time. Warblington (disabled access only) and Waterlooville cemeteries are accessible by car at any time of the day as the gates are never closed. Please be aware that Havant cemetery is only accessible on foot.

Is there anyone at the cemetery I can speak to?

The staff are usually on site from 9am to 4pm (except lunch break normally 12 -1pm) and will be happy to help but he may be working anywhere in the cemetery. Havant cemetery does not have a permanent member of staff.

Where can I find information about the extension to Warblington Cemetery?

Due to lack of burial space, we have increased the area available for burials at Warblington by extending the existing cemetery to the east of the Church over fields previously used for grazing animals. Work started on site in November 2005, and the extension was officially opened on 3rd May 2006. Further information about the project is available through this project link >>

What about Cremation?

Havant, Fareham, Gosport and Portsmouth Councils co-operate over the joint management of the Portchester Crematorium. For more details see the Crematorium's web site at www.portchestercrematorium.org/.

Public Health Funerals

Under the Public Health (Control of Diseases) Act 1984 the local authority will, following a request from the Coroner’s office, arrange a funeral (burial, not cremation) for a deceased person where there is no known next of kin or other person able to make the necessary arrangements.

Public Health Funerals Undertaken

Funeral Location	Date of Birth	Date of Death	Referred to Treasury Solicitor
Hayling Island PO11	13/01/1941	26/10/2009	No
Waterlooville PO8	18/07/1961	08/03/2010	No
Hayling Island PO11	09/01/1963	26/03/2010	No
Waterlooville PO9	1949	01/05/2010	No
Waterlooville PO7	20/08/1934	24/06/2010	Yes
Havant PO9	11/11/1938	03/01/2011	No
Emsworth PO10	12/04/1912	15/01/2011	No
Hayling Island PO11	13/06/1962	08/04/2011	No
Havant PO9	17/12/1950	03/05/2011	Yes
Emsworth PO10	27/02/1930	20/07/2011	Yes
Waterlooville PO8	17/06/1955	19/08/2011	No
Hayling Island PO11	28/07/1941	13/09/2011	TBA

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 names and addresses have been withheld under the following two exemptions:

Section 31(1)(a) - law enforcement (prevention and detection of crime). HBC will not disclose address details into the public domain where they relate to deceased’s empty properties as the property is likely to be unoccupied and might still contain the deceased's personal papers and effects. HBC does not believe it to be in the public interest to disclose information relating to empty properties prior to a full and thorough securing of the assets of the estate as undertaken by Treasury Solicitors. Additionally, giving out the names of the deceased taken with other information easily available i.e. the electoral roll, telephone directory entry, 192.com etc would make identifying properties fairly easy.

Section 21 – Information accessible to applicant by other means. Although I can confirm that Havant Borough Council (HBC) holds some of the information requested, HBC does not accept that it holds the information in its own right, but on behalf of the Treasury Solicitors' department. Some details of the estate of those persons who have died have been passed onto the Treasury Solicitors' Department can be accessed via the Treasury Solicitors' website http://www.tsol.gov.uk/default.htm or at the BV website www.bonavacantia.gov.uk.

Service Deliverer:	Havant Borough Council
Contact:	Cemeteries Service
Telephone No:	023 9244 6425 (information and bookings)
Address:	Southmoor Depot, 2 Penner Road, Havant, PO9 1QH
Email:	cemeteries@havant.gov.uk
Details:	We manage three cemeteries, at Havant (closed to new burials), Waterlooville and Warblington. We have staff on site during the working day who you can ask to assist you. We are also one of the four Councils who use the Portchester Crematorium. Our staff at the Council's Southmoor Lane site are also able to offer help and advice on any aspect of using our cemeteries.

Death and Bereavement

Cemeteries