By Craig Smith

A FIFE village which has been in dire need of a new burial ground for almost a decade is still no nearer having a site designated fit for the purpose.

Bowhill Cemetery reached capacity more than six years ago and Cardenden people have been crying out for a final resting place to be provided closer to home—all to no avail.

The situation means that burials are having to take place in nearby Kinglassie, Lochgelly and Kirkcaldy.

David Taylor, secretary of Cardenden and Kinglassie Community Council, described the situation that residents have been facing.

“Bowhill started to reach its capacity over 15 years ago and we have been looking for a new site for many years,” he said.

“It has been full for six years now and the only funerals that take place there are people who have acquired plots—there are no vacant plots left and funerals are having to be held elsewhere.

“We want Fife Council to identify a site and find out if it’s suitable—the ground has got to be free of water and they have got to make sure there is no contamination, that sort of thing.

“I think there are one or two sites still being looked at but it’s just a case of giving people a firm commitment that there will be a new cemetery in the area.”

The community council, which has long been fighting for a new cemetery site, hopes councillors will move the issue forward before the saga drags on any further.

A number of sites have been identified as part of the Kirkcaldy and mid Fife local plan as ripe for development, although many of these have already been discounted.

Land next to the village’s war memorial had previously been suggested as the latest potential site but no further movement has been made to that effect.

Negotiations between Fife Council and the owner of another patch of land in Cardenden fell through in March.

And another promising site in Dundonald—near South Dundonald Farm—has also been ruled out.

Liz Murphy, bereavement services manager with Fife Council, said no decision had yet been taken and the search goes on.

“At present a suitable site for the extension of Bowhill Cemetery, Cardenden, has not been identified,” she confirmed.

“Fife Council remains committed to acquiring an alternative site.

“The council is working hard to find land in the neighbouring area that meets the strict environmental standards applied by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).”