Local Graveyard sold as amenity ground

[josey]

This graveyard is near to where I live.
https://hanson-cs.co.uk/app/uploads/2020/03/324+102848_BROCHURE.pdf
It appears that is was put up for sale in February 2020, freehold for £5000.

I noticed today when I walked down Upperthong Lane to Holmfirth that there is now a 'Private' sign and 'XXX's garden' on the gateposts; the gates are chained & locked. There is no indication of how to gain 'prior agreement' to view a grave as specified in the conditions.

How can this be allowed? The monuments surely belong to the deceaseds' relatives, even if they no longer visit.

[JenB]

According to Findagrave it was associated with what became the United Reformed Church
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2573149/lane-united-reformed-church-upper-graveyard
There is an address for enquiries 

[Maiden Stone]

"the purchaser being responsible for obtaining planning or other consents that may be required."
"Terms
The land is offered for sale for amenity/garden use only with appropriate restrictions to be observed.
There will be an obligation for the purchaser to facilitate access to graves  for visitors on a prior arrangement basis.
The purchaser will be obliged to comply with relevant legislation to ensure the ongoing protection of burials onsite."

Questions.
What is the procedure for offering graveyards for sale?
What "planning or other consents" might be required?
How is "amenity use" defined?
What are the "appropriate restrictions" which are to be observed?
How does the purchaser intend to fulfil the obligation to facilitate access to visitors to graves?
What is the "relevant legislation to ensure the ongoing protection of burials"?

[josey]

According to Findagrave it was associated with what became the United Reformed Church
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2573149/lane-united-reformed-church-upper-graveyard
There is an address for enquiries 

But I feel this should be displayed on site, on the locked gates. The web page is out of date as the TIC is now closed & the mentioned notice no longer there.

How does the purchaser intend to fulfil the obligation to facilitate access to visitors to graves?
What is the "relevant legislation to ensure the ongoing protection of burials"?

I believe that a record of all the graves/monuments has to be lodged with the council once the cemetery changes hands, but who knows if this has been done? As you can see, I am incensed by this.

[Girl Guide]

Can you find anything on your local council website about this, in the planning application section?  There may be some means of contacting someone about it via that section.

Quite often when a planning application is put in there is a means for anyone to object if they wish to do so.  I think there is usually a time limit for that so you may be too late to object but perhaps there is someone you can contact at the council.

[josey]

Good thinking, thank you. Found an application - granted - to do work to ALL the trees within the graveyard [it's in a conservation area but they are not subject to TPOs] received 25 Jun 2020. Application does name owner! Further research tomorrow.....

[Girl Guide]

Let us know how you get on.  I'm off to bed as soon as I have had my mug of tea. 

[Top-of-the-hill]

  It all sounds very odd. I wonder what the new owners are planning to do with it - I don't think I would want a graveyard as a garden.

[guest189040]

There is a graveyard in what is now a very affluent part of the North West.

It was attached to a Hospital which was used during WW1 and Soldiers who did not survive were buried there.

Years later at the behest of Thatcher’s Government surplus land was sold off.

The graveyard was sold and the headstones removed by the new owner.

Then deterioration started and further ownership transfers took place.

So despite it being a War Cemetery no one takes ownership of the site.