Sufficient burial space remains in Fife despite a number of cemeteries nearing capacity, it has been claimed.
Fife Council says there is no immediate concern about provision for the dead, despite announcing a significant expansion of a St Andrews cemetery to cope with a shortfall in burial spots.
In the region of 500 new plots are to be created at the town’s Western Cemetery and could be ready as early as spring.
The expansion of the site is scheduled to take place on its south side, which is farmland, and it is thought the new lairs could extend the viability of the graveyard by up to 30 years.
The decision to expand the cemetery has been taken to tackle the shortfall in burial space in St Andrews, a problem reflected across the region.
However, stating that there was no immediate concern over cemetery capacity, Liz Murphy, service manager at Fife Council, said: “We are looking at a handful of cemeteries which are nearing capacity, however overall within Fife there is still significant burial space available.”
Last year, it was revealed in The Courier that residents of Cardenden may have to look elsewhere for a plot after it was admitted that plots were running out at Bowhill Cemetery.
Residents were instead having to look for lairs at nearby Kinglassie or Lochgelly.