Cemeteries to have restrictions placed on them

Among those revealed in a report to have less than 10 years’ capacity is the Isle of Iona Cemetery, which will require a new site in the next 11 years, and Beadoun Cemetery on Tobermory.

Calgary Cemetery, on Mull, also features on the list, while Kibrandon’s old cemetery has limited remaining space although its new site operates in parallel.

Achnaba and Appin Cemeteries also have sales restricted to parish residents, with no scope for further extension.

Pennygowan Cemetery and the Isle of Lismore Cemetery had already been listed by council chiefs as having less than 10 years’ capacity available at the current rate of sale in November 2023.

The updated report will go before Argyll and Bute Council’s environment, development and infrastructure (EDI) committee on Thursday, March 21.

Executive director Kirsty Flanagan said: “At the March 2023 EDI committee a cemetery rule change was agreed: ‘Remaining lair space in any operational cemetery will be considered critical, when the current rate of unrestricted lair sales indicates less than 10 years until all lairs are sold.

“’In such cases sale of lairs will be restricted to ‘at point of requirement’ for a first interment. There will be no resumption of ‘pre-purchase’ of lairs, until such time, as additional lair space has been developed and made available.’

“Further to this, there have been historical local agreements agreed at area committee level. These further restricted the sale of lairs to local residents or parish members only.