Wester Ross burial plans under the spotlight
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PLANS to extend a Wester Ross burial ground come under the spotlight at a special meeting in Inverness tomorrow.
A special meeting of Highland Council on Thursday will determine the issue at Morefield burial ground in Ullapool.
If the plans are approved, it’s understood the extended burial ground will provide 600 new lairs – sufficient to meet the needs of the area it serves for several decades.
The local authority is however obliged to follow the provisions of legislation dating back to 1855 in order to press ahead with the plans to extend the cemetery by half an acre.
Under the provisions of the Burial Grounds (Scotland) Act 1855, Highland Council is obliged to follow a requisition and special meeting procedure to determine whether an extension should be provided.
The actual acquisition of land is dealt with separately and has already been approved, a report going before tomorrow’s meeting states.
An extension will be provided in accordance with the 1855 Act if the majority of those members voting at a special meeting resolve that an extension to the existing burial ground is to be provided.
The Council is recommended to agree to provide the burial ground extension at Morefield, Ullapool under Section 9 of the Burial Grounds (Scotland) Act 1855, as amended.
When the extension issue was discussed at a Highland Council meeting in August 2010, it received no objections, although the neighbouring golf club flagged up potential land use conflicts. It was agreed at that time however that if required, separation measures involving a fence or trees could be agreed.
