Fears grow as councils start to run out of cemetery plots

Graveyards are on the brink of running out of space for new burials in dozens of communities across the north and north-east, it can be revealed. A Press and Journal investigation has exposed a looming capacity crisis affecting cemeteries in almost every corner of northern Scotland.

The shortage of graves is poised to hit rural villages as well as significant population centres – including Elgin, Keith, Alness, Dingwall, Dornoch, Kingussie, Ellon and Banchory.

Last night, local politicians demanded urgent action to avert the “unthinkable” prospect that bereaved families will soon be told they can not bury loved ones nearby because graveyards are full.

Capacity concerns have already led to a ban on residents buying lairs in advance at Elgin, as well as in some areas of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and the Highlands and islands.

And Moray Council has even considered burying the dead under cemetery paths at some sites, as it is struggling to find the cash to pay for extensions.

Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “This is something that has been raised with me by constituents who are extremely concerned about the future.

“If plans are not taken forward, this could have the unthinkable consequence that some families and communities may not have the choice to bury their loved ones where they want to, if there are no plots available.

“Clearly, that cannot be allowed to happen and action needs to be taken to tackle this.”

As we launch a week-long series today on the challenges faced by families as they come to say goodbye to loved ones, the P&J has published data on our website on every cemetery in northern Scotland run by councils.

It shows that there are more than 150 cemeteries with fewer than 100 lairs remaining – including more than half of all the graveyards still in use in the Highlands, and more than 40% of those in Moray and Aberdeenshire.

A total of 58 graveyards have fewer than 30 unsold spaces left, while 19 have 10 or fewer lairs still to be bought.

According to Highland Council figures, there are just 12 unsold graves in Alness, 39 in Ardersier, three in Arisaig, four in Canisbay, six at Chapelhill by Nigg, 20 in Croy, 23 at Daviot, six at Dores, 30 at Dunvegan, 10 at Fodderty, and 10 at Petty-Tornagrain.

There are only 20 remaining at Proncynain in Dornoch, 52 at Kingussie, 117 at Mitchell Hill in Dingwall, and 159 at Roskeen near Invergordon.

Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes said some of her constituents had contacted her about the situation and were “understandably worried”.

“Local burial grounds are incredibly important places, with most people wishing to be buried in the village or town they call home,” she said.

“In light of these figures, I hope that Highland Council is looking ahead and making plans to ensure that capacity is not an issue in the near future in any part of the Highlands.”

In Orkney, there are a dozen lairs remaining unsold at Stronsay, 13 at Sanday, four at Orphir, 12 at Holm and 11 at Graemsay.

And on Shetland there are 15 lairs remaining at Kirkabister, six at