Reopening Dingwall tower 'won't be disrespectful to the dead'
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A CAMPAIGN to reopen a Ross-shire landmark to the public has taken a new twist, with questions raised over the “hallowed ground” on which it stands.
Nearly 800 people have signed a petition asking Highland Council to open the 100ft memorial to Sir Hector MacDonald to the public, saying the stunning panorama it commands across Dingwall would help woo more visitors to the county town, which also sits on the North Coast 500 route.
The MacDonald Monument is situated in Mitchell Hill cemetery and Dingwall and Seaforth councillor Alister Mackinnon said discussions so far had failed to consider this fact.
He added: “My view is that I would hate to see any commercialisation impact on what is sacred and hallowed ground.
“Before it was opened, we would certainly have to consider the feelings of those people who have loved ones buried up there and take into account their sensitivities, given what is being proposed.”
The tower campaign launched by the town’s community council and development company, with the support of the local Business Improvement District (BID) project, has gained momentum in recent weeks since a petition was launched.
It has also won the backing of local MP Ian Blackford and MSP Kate Forbes, who have constituency offices in Dingwall.
Asked about the graveyard concerns, Dingwall Community Council member Jack Shepherd said: “My father and grandparents are buried within 50 metres of the monument, along with other members of our extended family.
“In their day, they were all happy to see the monument open, it was great to be able to climb to the top and enjoy the views and many of them did.”
He added: “Should we ever be in a position where a funeral was taking place, then we would wait until the proceedings were completed. We would not wish to cause any upset and would go out of our way to ensure that this was not the case.”
BID leader George Murray said: “My mother, both my grandparents on my father’s side and a number of great uncles and aunts, including the famous local postie Davie, are all buried at Mitchell Hill and would be turning in their graves with current Highland Council policies regarding the closure of the monument.
“They were laid to rest knowing full well the monument was open to visitors and had no problem with that and they certainly believed taking pleasure in life is not sacrilege.”
Cllr Graham Mackenzie is backing the campaign, along with his Dingwall and Seaforth council colleagues Margaret Paterson and Angela Maclean.
Cllr Paterson remembered how her late husband, along with Wavell Gunn and Donnie Mackay, would open the monument to whoever wanted to go up it and ran people up the hill in a people carrier. She said: “They were forever taking people up there and they loved it, they just loved it, with the spectacular views.”
Cllr Maclean said: “Until 2011, together with some members of a previous community council and the-then ward members and ward manager, we cleaned the building and took visitors up to the top. “
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