Aberdeen City Council has been urged to carry out improvements to a cemetery car park, following concerns about disabled access.
Residents have voiced their worries to Hazlehead councillor Martin Greig about the parking facilities at Hazlehead Cemetery, which lie at the bottom of the hill where the graveyard is situated.
Mr Greig believes the grounds, in their current condition, offer inadequate support for disabled or frail visitors, and has written to the local authority, asking them to intervene.
He explained that, due to the steepness of the cemetery, many people wishing to visit the graves of their loved ones at the top of the hill were faced with a lengthy walk, which posed a challenge to some mourners.
The Hazlehead councillor has asked the local authority to investigate what can be done to make the graveyard more accessible.
Mr Greig said: “I have been aware of this problem for a while now after hearing concerns from residents.
“There are vehicles that park all along the top of the hill, closer to the higher parts of the cemetery, so clearly people feel there is a need for improved parking.
“The existing arrangements do not appear to be suitable for many. It is a very steep hill, and I think it could be worth investigating possible solutions.
“Potentially, some disabled or priority spaces could be set aside at the top end of the hill leading up to the cemetery, because people need to have suitable, convenient access to an important location like this.
“It is, of course, a very sensitive area, so any changes or improvements need to be handled with great care and considerable thought in order to improve access without disturbing the area’s peaceful nature.”
Neil Cooney, convener of Aberdeen City Council’s communities, housing and infrastructure committee, said that the local authority will examine the concerns.
He added: “If there is an issue, we’ll look at it and see what we can do to make the place as friendly and accessible to everyone.
“We’ll examine this case, and see if there’s an easy solution to it for us to implement.”
