Villagers' plea for new cemetery

Residents have made a plea to Fife Council officials to find land for a new graveyard after the only one in their village ran out of room.

Bowhill Cemetery in Cardenden, Fife, reached full capacity six years ago and villagers are desperate for the council to find a new site.

Burials are being conducted in other nearby towns and villages, including Kinglassie, Lochgelly and Kirkcaldy.

Fife Council said it was actively looking for an alternative site.

David Taylor, secretary of Cardenden and Kinglassie Community Council, said the council had been warned the cemetery was running out of room 15 years ago.

There are no vacant plots left and funerals are having to be held elsewhere David Taylor

He said: "We have been looking for a new site for many years. The Bowhill cemetery has been full for six years now and the only funerals that take place there are people who have acquired plots.

"There are no vacant plots left and funerals are having to be held elsewhere.

"We want Fife Council to identify a site and find out if it's suitable - the ground has got to be free of water and they have got to make sure there is no contamination."

He added: "I think there are one or two sites still being looked at but it's just a case of giving people a firm commitment that there will be a new cemetery in the area."

The community council, which has long been campaigning for a new cemetery, hopes that Fife councillors will now move quickly on the matter.

A number of sites have been identified for development as part of the Kirkcaldy and mid Fife local plan, but many have already been ruled out.

Liz Murphy, bereavement services manager with Fife Council, said no decision had been taken on a new site and the search was ongoing.

She added: "The council is working hard to find land in the neighbouring area that meets the strict environmental standards applied by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa)."