The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
‘Draconian’ mass graves considered by authority
● Council hopes measure is one ‘we will never have to put in place’
AScottish council considered following New York and creating “strips” of mass graves.
After the death toll neared 10,000 in New York City last month, morgues across the city became overwhelmed and the number of burials on Hart Island jumped to five times higher than usual.
Drone footage, later confiscated by police, captured workers stacking wooden coffins in the deep trenches of a newly-built mass grave.
In Scotland, Aberdeenshire Council this week revealed it had considered responding in a similar fashion.
In what was described as a “draconian” measure, the potential emergency response was discussed in the council’s recent infrastructure and services committee.
Philip McKay, head of roads, landscapes and waste services, said initial studies showed a bleak picture for the region’s funeral service and it was feared cremation services could be “overwhelmed”.
He said: “As part of that modelling there was ideas similar to New York’s approach, that we may have to open what effectively would be strip lairs.
“And we didn’t feel that if we reached that stage it would be appropriate to be done with members of the public there.
“It is an absolutely draconian measure and one we didn’t take lightly and one we hoped we will never have to put in place.”
He added: “We were also considering the preemptive opening of lairs, which means the lair would be open before we had notification of the requirement for it.”
So far, of its emergency measures, the council has only implemented one, the suspension of fees for graveyard assistance.
Yesterday’s meeting also discussed a “small number” of occasions where large numbers had congregated for funerals.
In one incident two weeks ago, 60 people attended one funeral in a breach of rules that was deemed “unacceptable”, Mr McKay explained.
The council is now preparing a factsheet of information to give to families to help improve awareness of what is and is not currently allowed.
Peter Argyle, chairman of the committee, also said he was “proud” of council staff for responding so well to the current pandemic.
He added: “The service has prepared for the worstcase scenario and hopefully that will never be needed – but we need measures and plans in place.
“When it comes to funerals and bereavement, which is an incredibly sensitive area, the emphasis and care shown by the service has been exemplary.”