GRAVE CONCERN

Lack of lairs deepens grief caused by coronavirus crisis

A lack of new burial lairs in South Lanarkshire has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

Plans for a new cemetery opposite South Lanarkshire Crematorium were scuppered after it was discovered that the site didn’t meet SEPA guidelines.

That has left the council’s remaining cemeteries with “reducing availability”, a problem that has only deepened since coronavirus swept the country.

In South Lanarkshire, 282 people have died with Covid-19 and the problem in Blantyre has been highlighted by limited availability at Priestfield Cemetery.

Head of Facilities, Waste and Grounds Services, Alistair Mckinnon, said: “We are aware of the reducing availability in Priestfield Cemetery and across all councilmanaged cemeteries, particularly as the effects of the

current coronavirus take effect.

“We continue to investigate availability of suitable land across a range of areas and the location opposite the entrance to the crematorium was one such area.

“However, it did not meet the SEPA guidelines for a suitable cemetery site and the suggestion was discounted at this time.

“While the council takes every opportunity to continue to provide burial ground in a number of towns and villages across South Lanarkshire our legal obligation is to provide one burial ground within the area of the local authority.”

Concerned resident Williamina Brown wanted to highlight the problem in Blantyre because of the limited availability at Priestfield Cemetery.

She said: “Priestfield Cemetery in High Blantyre is now almost full to capacity and now has very few, if any, new (unused) burial plots/unopened burial lairs available for sale and/or use by grieving families who have just lost relatives and/ or will lose relatives during this ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“The local authority did have plans to open a brand new replacement cemetery directly across the road from the main entrance to South Lanarkshire Crematorium on Sydes Brae.

“They were going to buy the open fields that are situated on the other side of Sydes Brae from South Lanarkshire Crematorium. However, no new cemetery was ever built on this site.

“If we get a second spike of this coronavirus it will only add to the burden on grieving relatives who will lose loved ones.

“We may be in danger of running out of burial plots/ burial lairs in the Blantyre area in the very near future.”