Plans for Muslim cemetery at former football park move forward

Plans to create a Muslim cemetery have taken a step forward.

The city council has drawn up a detailed proposal to use the East End football park in Old Craigie Road.

The planning application states that the 13,000 sq m site, which lies just beyond the top of Eastern Cemetery, would be capable of taking more than 1,400 lairs.

An environmental report on the proposal was completed two years ago.

Macleod Consulting said in a report: “With the recent commitment to develop a new cemetery at Linlathen, extension of the Eastern Cemetery would no longer be the preferred option for site use.

“However, to fulfil local demand the site has been identified as a potential site for sale to the Muslim community for use as a dedicated Muslim burial ground.”

They said construction would have to take account of the presence of ash and clinker in the embankments that surround the site.

If the project goes ahead a vehicle access would be created off Old Craigie Road and a network of footpaths laid out to allow access to the lairs.