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Expert says there is ‘zero risk’ new Aberdeen stadium could unleash plague by disturbing burial pits

The proposed Aberdeen FC beach stadium is part of a £150m regeneration effort. Picture by Aberdeen City Council.
The proposed Aberdeen FC beach stadium is part of a £150m regeneration effort. Picture by Aberdeen City Council.

Warnings hundreds-year-old plague pits could hinder Aberdeen FC’s efforts building a new beachfront stadium have been branded as “without reason whatsoever”.

The suggestion began as a note printed in the letters pages of The Evening Express from former Bridge of Don councillor Muriel Jaffrey.

The proposed Aberdeen FC beach stadium is part of a £150m regeneration effort. Picture by Aberdeen City Council.
The proposed Aberdeen FC beach stadium is part of a £150m regeneration effort. Picture by Aberdeen City Council.

But a national newspaper branded her an “expert”, warning that disturbing the graves of hundreds of Black Death victims could allow the disease to resurface in the Granite City.

Prof Hugh Pennington: Aberdeen beach stadium plans pose ‘zero risk’ of spreading plague

We consulted our own expert – a leading bacteriologist – who told us there is “zero risk” of that happening.

Professor Hugh Pennington says the Aberdeen FC stadium plans pose "zero risk" of bringing back plague in Aberdeen. Picture by Kami Thomson/DCT Media.
Professor Hugh Pennington says the Aberdeen FC stadium plans pose “zero risk” of bringing back plague in Aberdeen. Picture by Kami Thomson/DCT Media.

Emeritus professor at Aberdeen University, Hugh Pennington, said: “It’s not infectious, bearing in mind how plague is transmitted – by being bitten by a flea, which has bitten a rat which has the plague.

“The idea that it can be transmitted just by close contact is highly unlikely.

“Like all these things, there are all sorts of rumours and one of them is you can catch it by digging up graves.

“There is zero risk but people do get a little bit excited about it without reason whatsoever.”

Claims plague could be active in for ‘500 years’

Mrs Jaffrey’s fears, according to her letter to Aberdeen Journals, are based upon her school history classes.

Former Aberdeen City Councillor Muriel Jaffrey raised concerns about Aberdeen FC's planned new beach stadium, set to be built on plague pits.
Former Aberdeen City Councillor Muriel Jaffrey.

The former SNP councillor – who it is fair to say might be an “expert” on planning applications after 18 years – claimed previous plans for the land near Broad Hill “concerned her greatly”.

Rats from visiting ships spread the disease in the 16th and 17th centuries, bringing three outbreaks to Aberdeen.

Infected families were moved into specially constructed huts in the city, and the dead were thrown in pits at the foot of Broad Hill.

Muriel Jaffrey's letter, printed in The Evening Express on June 25, raised concerns about the plague pits at Aberdeen beach - as the Dons look to build a new stadium there.
Muriel Jaffrey’s letter, printed in The Evening Express on June 25, raised concerns about the plague pits at Aberdeen beach – as the Dons look to build a new stadium there.

‘Am I the only one worried about the plague?’

She sought advice from Edinburgh City Council on those previous and unsuccessful plans.

A planner in the capital assured her they “would never build on” their mass plague pits.

In her letter, she pondered: “I am wondering if I am the only person in Aberdeen who is extremely worried about the proposal for the relocation of the Dons football stadium.

“This was a bit of local history we got at school and we were told the plague can be active for over 500 years.”

But it seems it’s more likely that bad form is the only thing that might plague the Dons…

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