Totteridge Manor Association

Policy regarding memorials on TMA Land

 Introduction

The Totteridge Manor Estate comprises of 54 acres of common land which includes Totteridge Green and the verges of Totteridge Lane, Village and Common. The land is the property of the Association and the Council of the TMA has the right to make, issue and enforce regulations and rules relating to the use by the public and others of the common lands and to grant wayleaves and other rights.

The primary objective of the Association is “To maintain and preserve the Association’s property and the rural amenities and beauties of the common lands and surrounding countryside for the benefit of the residents of Totteridge and neighbouring districts and of visitors from all parts”. 

Background

The Association receives requests for memorials of one kind or another to be placed on Manor Land from time-to-time. Only two types are regarded as suitable, a tree or a bench. The TMA grants permission only sparingly. In the case of trees the TMA is committed to maintaining the balance between open areas of grassland and more densely wooded areas. It does not want the Estate to become a woodland by default so, where permission is granted the species and location will be specified by the TMA, usually where there is a requirement for a replacement tree.

In the case of benches, it is felt that too many would be inconsistent with the need to maintain the “rural amenities and beauties of the Estate”. With the need to prevent an unacceptable proliferation of benches there are no opportunities for new benches, only for replacements when an existing bench has reached the end of its life.

The policy detailed below is designed to ensure that the allocation of space for the installation of a memorial bench is dealt with fairly, that owners recognise that there is a limit to the number of benches available and that these have a limited lifespan.

 Policy – new benches

Initial approval for the siting of a new bench will be for a period of 10 years with the option to extend for a further 10-year period.

Benches will be purchased by the applicant, but the design and materials must be approved by the TMA Council

An inscribed plaque may be attached to the bench, but the wording must be approved by the TMA Council

The bench remains the property of the owner and the owner is required to maintain the bench to a standard acceptable to the TMA’s public liability insurers

Where demand for benches cannot be met within the locations available, applicants may go on a waiting list. It will be the responsibility of the applicant to keep the TMA informed of any changes to contact details.

Policy – aging benches

It is important to note that approval for all existing memorial benches is granted only for that bench and does not signify that the space it occupies has been reserved for an indefinite period. It is therefore tied to the lifespan of the bench.

Due to the passage of time, and the informal nature of past agreements, contact details of current owners are not held for many of the existing benches. Also, the conditions under which consent was granted was generally not recorded, nor was the duration of these historic agreements specified. Where this is the case it is reasonable to assume that the agreement was for the serviceable life of the bench.

Where a bench is deemed to be coming to the end of its life and the owners cannot be traced, a notice will be placed on the bench six months prior to the expiry of the agreement giving owners notice that the bench will be removed if no contact is forthcoming. The bench will then be stored for a further six months. If it has not been claimed at the end of that period, it will be destroyed.

Where a formal agreement has been completed it will be the owners’ responsibility to notify the TMA of their wishes for the bench at the conclusion of the approved period.

Fees and Payment.

The TMA will not charge for the installation of a bench nor a “rent” during the life of the agreement.

The responsibility for maintaining the bench in a safe condition remains with the owner. Should a bench become unsafe the Association retains the right to remove it and store it until the end of the agreed period or until the owners have made the necessary repairs and the bench can be reinstated.