Fife’s cemeteries could become eyesores if urgent funding is not found for maintenance, it has been claimed.
Councillors have claimed the condition of graveyards across the region will be affected, after funding cuts of more than two-thirds were confirmed this month.
The savings made as part of the council administration’s budget have prompted fears that grass at many burial grounds will go uncut and that general upkeep of the sites will be affected.
Councillor George Kay representative for Burntisland, Kinghorn and Western Kirkcaldy said the region’s dead must be treated with respect.
“When looking at the communities funding and the money for cemeteries, it is being cut from £155,000 this year to £50,000 a year until 2025,” he said. “That’s more than £100,000.
“We must look after our deceased. This is a group of people that should be treated with the utmost respect.”
Fellow councillor John Beare representative for Glenrothes North, Leslie and Markinch echoed Mr Kay’s concerns.
“The ongoing maintenance of our graveyards and cemeteries has been a concern for me from before I was a councillor,” he said. “I appreciate that there are some 160 sites in the care of the council and that budgets are declining.
“The manner in which we treat our cemeteries is a reflection of how we respect our past and our ancestors and my judgment is that it’s not yet good enough.
“I will be discussing with colleagues how we can improve what we do.”
Maintaining burial sites in Fife is a huge task for the local authority, which has 115 cemeteries and churchyards in its care.
“Many of these are full, with just 62 sites still accepting new interments, of which 1,500 take place every year.
Despite the budget cut, Liz Murphy, local authority service manager, said all will be done to keep sites well maintained.
“Our aim is always to provide a high standard of service and our programme of maintenance works hasn’t changed.
“Grass in our cemeteries is cut on a 10-day cycle and although headstones are the responsibility of the lair holder, we will take action if a stone is unsafe and they cannot be contacted.
“Interments are always our priority, however, so if we have a high number to deal with maintenance work can sometimes be delayed. We will try to avoid this wherever possible.”