Inverness area burial grounds have less than 10 years capacity at 4 locations, Highland Council report warns
Several burial grounds in the Inverness area have less than 10 years current capacity, according to a report to be presented to city councillors today.
It warns that if extensions or new sites are not provided, there is a risk that Highland Council will be unable to provide burials in some locations to meet the expectations and preferences of communities.
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The council has 247 burial grounds in the region of which 39 are in the Inverness area. Of these, 27 are operational and 12 are closed.
The report, which gives an update on measures being undertaken to increase the number of burial spaces, highlights four burial grounds in the Inverness area having less than 10 years current capacity - Kilvean, Kilmorack, Petty Tornagrain and Dores.
It states that at Kilvean there are more than four years of prepared lairs in the current phase of the site while planning permission has been approved and drainage work completed for the next extension to increase capacity by 10 more years.
It also says further plans are being developed to use other areas of the burial ground, potentially adding another 15 to 20 years capacity.
Last month, plans for its expansion were given the green light which should ensure it remains operational until at least 2066.
At Kilmorack, work will be undertaken this summer to increase the current capacity to more than 10 years while options for further lairs in the Petty Tornagrain burial ground boundary are being investigated.
Work on a new extension at Dores is expected to begin this year although there has been a slight delay due to the delay in the construction of the shared access road which is now due to start this month.
A breakdown of figures reveals some burial grounds have long-term capacity such as Auchterawe (480 years), Invermoriston (225 years) and Beauly St Mary’s (208 years).
Councillors will be asked to note the progress of burial ground extensions in the Inverness area as well as the challenges with identifying and developing suitable land for burial ground development
The reasons include land availability and purchase cost, development costs, land suitability and geology plus land conditions and requirements.
Regulatory requirements also have to be considered.
The selection of any new sites or extensions, for example, must not cause any pollution to the environment, including groundwater.
