Environment and Regeneration Services

Wyncham House

207 Longlands Road, Sidcup, Kent, DA15 7JH

Tel: 020 8308 7832

Fax: 020 8308 7896

DX31807 Bexleyheath

m/r / FOI 9.160 / Direct Dial / 020 8308 7832
y/r / Date / 18 March 2009
The person dealing with this matter is / Mrs Lin Wise

Eren Tatari

Dear Eren

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 - INFORMATION REQUEST

Your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act has now been considered and the information requested is given below.

You asked :

1) Which council run cemeteries has a Muslim section, and/oraccommodate Islamic burials?

The London Borough of Bexley has two cemeteries which have Muslim sections. These are ErithCemetery, Brook Street, ErithDA8 1DY (which opened in 1981 and is now full) and HillviewCemetery, Wickham Street, Welling DA16 3DA (which opened in 1995, and has provision for many new graves.)

2) If any, when were the Muslim sections established, or policies to accommodate Islamic burials implemented?

The ErithCemeteryopened in 1981 and Hillview in 1995. London Borough of Bexley’s policy is to interas quickly as possible in accordance with Islamic burial procedure and shroud burials are also permitted. Lowering shrouds / coffins into the grave is strictly by rope or webbing and no person other than a Council employee / operative may enter an open grave. This is strictly for Health & Safety reasons. [ Guidance taken from East London Mosque and direction from “ Gardens of Peace” Muslim cemetery Hainault, Essex.]

If you are considering making use of the information supplied, please consider whether the Reuse of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 apply. Details of these regulations are available on Bexley Council’s website at this address,

If you have any queries or concerns about this response then please contact Team Leader (Residential), Environmental Health & Trading Standards, London Borough of Bexley, 2A Hadlow Road, Sidcup DA14 4AF (Tel: 020 8308 7660).

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request please contact Mr Chris Loynes, Head of Citizenship and Members’ Services, Room 338, London Borough of Bexley, Civic Offices, Broadway, Bexleyheath, Kent DA6 7LB or by e-mail who will deal with the complaint.

You can also complain to theInformation Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone:01625 545 700

Yours sincerely

L S Wise

Lin Wise (Mrs)

Directorate Management Support Officer

Environment & Regeneration Services