Dumfries and Galloway Council will restart reclaiming unused lairs at cemeteries
People in Dumfries and Galloway are at risk of being buried outwith their home towns.
Dumfries and Galloway Council could be making another grave error in trying to solve the problem of a shortage of space at cemeteries, a councillor warned this week.
The local authority was embroiled in controversy several years ago for dismantling around 1,140 headstones considered unsafe and “socketing” them into the ground – without properly notifying relatives.
This practice caused anguish and anger for families, a petition to the Scottish Government, and even prompted a Sanquhar man to take legal action against the council due to damage caused to a loved one’s headstone.
With cemeteries now filling up across the region and a shortage of burial spaces, the council will now begin reclaiming lairs that have been unused for 50 years or more.
This move is ringing alarm bells for North West Dumfries Councillor Andy Ferguson.
Speaking at the council’s communities committee on Tuesday, he said: “If we learned anything from the dangerous gravestones situation, we learned – talk to people.
“Speak to people, don’t just do.”
Councillor Ferguson asked for clarity around reclaiming unused lairs after 50 years, saying: “Does that mean nothing’s happened with them in 50 years?
“It’s quite realistic for a young family to bury a child aged two, and then they’d maybe want to be buried next to their child.
“I’m wondering here if the 50 years is practical? I’m just wondering if maybe we should reconsider that 50 years and maybe make it slightly longer, given that people are living longer these days, and this could go back to burial of their young loved ones before that in excess of 50 years.”
Karen Brownlie, the council’s interim head of facilities, waste and neighbourhood services, responded: “The 50-year period is what is detailed in the Burials and Cremations (Scotland) Act, so that’s where we’ve taken that information from.
“We will work through a process of looking at our burial records that we have, and if we’ve got contact details then certainly. But going back that term, it’s unlikely that we’ll have many contact details of lair holders.
“If we have, then obviously we would reach out to those lair holders. But the 50 years is what’s detailed within the act.”
Stressing the importance of speaking to the public, Councillor Ferguson said: “This could be another classic example of meaning well, but you could make every aunty, uncle, granny, and grandpa under the sun not happy if their relative’s grave is taken back, because they’re still in the ground there.
“I’m just a bit worried about the application of that. Maybe we should take a bit of time and have a think about that.”
A report tabled at Tuesday’s meeting highlighted the danger of people being buried outwith their home towns if space for more graves isn’t found or unused lairs aren’t reclaimed.
Moffat, Dalton, Castle Douglas and Dalbeattie cemeteries are among those which could be full within years.
Councillors agreed on changes to the burial strategy, which includes unused lairs being reclaimed after 50 years.
However, it was also agreed that each one will be dealt with on a case by case basis, and attempts will be made by the council to contact relatives where possible.