A man has criticised Highland Council after he travelled hundreds of miles to visit his mother’s grave – only to find the cemetery closed because of health and safety.
Local authority workers shut Tomnahurich Cemetery because of snow and ice on the roads and paths.
However, William Thomson was given no explanation for the closure after he spent three hours driving from his home in Aberdeenshire to find the gates locked.
The 49-year-old said he was “appalled” by the lack of thought for bereaved families.
Dozens of other people also went to the busy graveyard, on the A82 Inverness-Fort William road, on Saturday and had to leave without paying their respects.
It was the only city cemetery to be closed at the weekend.
With help from the Press and Journal, Mr Thomson, of Marykirk, contacted Inverness Provost, Councillor Alex Graham, who went to the graveyard to speak to him.
Soon after, a council worker arrived and attached a sign to the gates saying it was closed.
Mr Thomson, whose mother Mary was killed in a road accident in Invermoriston in 1978, said: “I think it is appalling in this day and age that they can close a cemetery. The roads and pavements are often a thousand times worse.
“In all my years coming here, I can’t remember it being shut.”
Mr Thomson said he made regular trips to Inverness and had never known Tomnahurich to be shut before.
He estimated there were more than 20 cars at the cemetery on Saturday morning.
By yesterday the graveyard had re-opened – although the notice was still up.
Mr Graham, who represents Inverness West, added that he intended to ask cemetery workers to ensure that future closures were clearly marked at the premises.
He said: “I spoke to cemetery staff who advised that they had closed Tomnahurich because the roads and paths were very icy and slippy.
“They felt it was a risk to people who might go in there.
“Unfortunately there was no notice put up to indicate that.”