Decision delayed on green burial ground at county border

Plans for ecological burial site have been withdrawn to consider objections

A decision about siting a natural burial ground on Angus farmland near the county’s border with Dundee has been delayed.

Angus development standards committee councillors had been due to consider the application for the site at Kellas Wood for what had been described as an “ecologically sound” alternative to standard cremation and traditional graveyard burials.

Farmers T Kettles and Son said the planned burial ground included within a half hectare site would be capable of accommodating around 500 lairs and would follow the creations of similar cemeteries in East Lothian, Ayrshire, and at Turriff in Aberdeenshire.

However, despite a conditional approval recommendation from Angus Council planning officials, the proposal was withdrawn before it could be considered by councillors in order for further discussions to take place with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) in the wake of objections over matters including flooding fears and the potential impact on the local water environment.

The scheme drew almost 70 responses, 58 in support.

Angus Council’s own parks and burial grounds service offered no objection, but said there was no evidence of either a shortfall or over supply of burial provision in the area, with the nearest cemetery only 2.5 miles away within the city boundary.

In support of the plan, farmer Alan Kettles said the family firm believed the proposal would improve the current surface water situation through the establishment of permanent vegetation within the site, located north of Kellas village at the corner of a junction leading to Murroes Primary School.

The applicants have said they want to create a “peaceful conservation place for relatives to pay their respects and experience a more personal and bespoke end-of-life ritual.”

The burial ground plan would ban grave ornamentation apart from the opportunity to plant birch trees to fit in with the adjacent Kellas Wood or leave small engraved boulders sourced from local quarries.

No firm date was set by the committee for the proposal to come back before them.

“(A) place for relatives to pay their respects and experience a more personal and bespoke end-of-life ritual