New rules for Moray's cemeteries
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A set size for headstones and a ban on pre-purchasing a lair are amongst new rules being introduced in Moray.
The council says that, following consultation with funeral directors and memorial masons, it has approved several revisions to the regulations which govern cemeteries and burial grounds.
Pre-purchased lairs can remain empty for many years, sometimes with the owners being buried or cremated elsewhere.
This, the council states, has an impact when a cemetery or burial ground is running out of space.
In addition, a system will also be introduced for booking burial times.
Marc Macrae (Fochabers/Lhanbryde, Conservative) chairs the council's economic development committee which approved the changes this week.
He said: "The overarching purpose of these revised rules is to ensure we’re managing our cemeteries and the overall burial service safely, efficiently and with dignity.
"These changes will improve service planning and allow for better use of our limited resources.
"The council recognises that this is an extremely important public service and its provision must be done with the utmost sensitively and care.
"We will be writing to funeral directors and memorial masons to inform them of the immediate changes.
"We will then be further communicating with them again once the timescale for introducing the fixed booking slots has been established."
