Fetteresso Cemetery expansion plans have been approved, with the Stonehaven site now future-proofed for decades to come.
The current graveyard, on the outskirts of the town, is “rapidly approaching full capacity”.
After looking for alternative sites for more than a decade, the local authority discovered that the field right next to the cemetery was for sale and bought it.
Planning chiefs have now sealed the expansion plans – and included measures to keep rabbits at bay…
Fetteresso Cemetery extension will link to existing graveyard
Council officials said the land had “numerous features” that would make it a good site for a graveyard.
Firstly, being located right next to the existing cemetery meant it would be easier to link the two sites together.
A new footpath will be created between the two.
Plus, it was deemed big enough to create a facility that would meet the needs
of Stonehaven and surrounding areas for “years to come”.
As well as the additional burial plots, a car park will be added for 53 vehicles.
Rabbit-proof fencing will be placed around the site to prevent any pests from disturbing the graves.
This comes after bones were found scattered around the nearby St Ciaran’s Kirkyard when animals were found to be burrowing “impressive holes” around the lairs.
How long will the Fetteresso Cemetery expansion take?
Work to expand the cemetery will be carried out over three phases, the first of which could take around 42 years to complete.
This is based on the current burial rate in the existing cemetery, which sees around 38 carried out each year.
Meanwhile, families could be given the opportunity to buy a memorial bench that would be placed in the new graveyard.
The benches would be placed within areas with colourful planting to give mourning visitors a peaceful space to remember their lost loved ones.
‘The town needs an extended cemetery’
Plans for the extension recently went before the Kincardine and Mearns area committee.
Councillor Dawn Black asked if there were plans to reduce the 60mph limit on the surrounding road which she noted goes “very rapidly” down to 30mph before the cemetery entrance.
But she was told that while this was not part of the planning application, it could be considered in the future by the local authority’s roads team.
However, the expansion proposal was largely welcomed by the committee.
Councillor Alan Turner urged his fellow members to support it, saying: “The town needs an extended cemetery.”
And it seems his fellow councillors felt the same way as the plan was unanimously approved.
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