No to new cemetery in Kirkintilloch – Bishopbriggs graveyard will be extended instead
A £2MILLION cemetery plan has been given the green light after council chiefs said no to a new Kirkintilloch burial ground.
The Old Aisle Cemetery in Kirkintilloch is nearing capacity and two options for a replacement were put forward.
Councillors have backed plans to extend Cadder Cemetery, in Bishopbriggs, at a cost of around £2million.
The other option was to build a new cemetery in Kirkintilloch at a cost of more than £3million.
A report to the development and infrastructure committee says that no suitable land has been identified in Kirkintilloch which is available for purchase. To secure land would require a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO).
However, it was felt a CPO would not succeed as the council has already identified a suitable alternative solution.
Lenzie and Kirkintilloch South councillor Gillian Renwick said: “I think this is a disgraceful decision. This has been a very emotive topic. From responses that I received, an overwhelming number of people were in support of something local.
“People come to Kirkintilloch to go to the Old Aisle Cemetery. This is about preserving a sense of history and community in Kirkintilloch.”
A consultation on the options was carried out in 2009 with various groups including churches, religious groups and residents’ associations.
The council said that while a low level of responses were received, the majority of respondents were in favour of a new cemetery being created in Kirkintilloch.
The decision will go to a full council meeting for final approval.
David Devine, the council’s head of roads and neighbourhood services, said: “This is a very welcome decision and will ensure that ongoing cemetery provision within East Dunbartonshire is maintained.”
He added: “The land beside Old Aisle Cemetery at Woodilee was the site of an old quarry and was an unsuitable location for a cemetery.
“Only a limited number of locations are suitable for the provision of a cemetery as they need to be above the flood plain and have over seven feet of top soil depth without hitting the water table or rock.”
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Monday 20 May 2013
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