Plans for a new graveyard in Ellon have been approved by councillors.
Since 2011, residents hoping to reserve burial plots at the town’s existing cemetery on Castle Road have been told there were no lairs available.
Proposals for an additional graveyard to the north of the town at Balmacassie were first discussed by councillors in 2012, but were put off amid discussions about road safety.
Now members of the Formartine area committee have given the scheme their approval, after their concerns about mourners accessing the site from the A984 Ellon bypass – which is a 60mph stretch – were addressed.
A deceleration lane will be created to allow people making the turn-off to do safely.
Ellon councillor Richard Thomson said yesterday: “I was concerned about having a simple in and out, as it’s a 60mph road, so we were a lot happier when we heard a deceleration lane would be installed.”
Earlier plans had indicated there would be 46 parking spaces at the site, but the newly-approved plans have set aside just 34.
But Mr Thomson said the committee had been satisfied there would not be a problem unless there was a “big funeral” for someone well-known in the town, and agreed they should focus on meeting the needs of “more regular usage”.
The new burial ground, opposite Balmacassie Way, will have more than 2,300 plots, including 176 casket lairs.