KILBIRNIE Cemetery could be closed within two years after it was revealed that North Ayrshire Council would not be replacing the current cemetery when it is full up, instead asking residents to be buried with other localities.

This news has been met with anger from the people of the town with a petition gathering almost 800 signatures in less than a week to be placed before North Ayrshire Council to try and change this decision.

And a local minister has been spoken out about the issue and in a letter send to Craig Hatton, Executive Director for Place at North Ayrshire Council, Rev. Fiona Calvin Ross speaks of her disgust at the decision, which came to light after a question at Kilbirnie Community Council.

Rev. Ross said in the letter: “I am writing to you in my capacity as the Minister of St. Columba’s Parish Church, Kilbirnie, to express both my disappointment and my disgust, as well as my opposition to the preposterous and utterly insensitive proposal of North Ayrshire Council to no longer have the provision of a cemetery in Kilbirnie once the existing cemetery is full.

“Instead a so-called “community cemetery” is proposed whereby the residents of Kilbirnie can effectively be buried anywhere within North Ayrshire. Even the proposal of Garnock Valley cemetery would be completely unacceptable.”

North Ayrshire Council have disputed the claims that the cemetery will close and say that it ‘will continue to be used for many years to come.’

A spokesperson said: “Kilbirnie Cemetery is not being closed and will continue to be used for many years to come.

“There remains space for new lairs at Kilbirnie and we expect this to be the case for the next couple of years.

“In May 2013, it was agreed by the Council’s Cabinet that, once existing cemeteries reach capacity, future burial space will be provided on a locality basis and that residents would have the option of using other cemeteries within their localities.

“However, it should be noted that this applies only to new lairs. Existing lairs at cemeteries such as Kilbirnie will be maintained and, where people have bought a lair and there is capacity within it, it can still be used. The option of an ashes interment is also available.

“Nevertheless, we are currently looking at the burial capacity within each locality and at possible sites for extensions across the whole of North Ayrshire.”

Labour Councillor for Kilbirnie and Beith, John Bell, told the Herald: “The council had plans for an extension to the existing cemetery which were shelved by the SNP cabinet in 2013.

“The SNP decided that the provision will now be on a “locality” basis in North Ayrshire to save them money on buying additional land.

“They seem to have no awareness of the distinct and separate communities within the Garnock Valley and that directing Kilbirnie families to Beith or Dalry to bury their relation is not appropriate.

“I’ve been contacted by a large numbers of residents concerned about the future availability of cemetery plots in Kilbirnie.

“While we can understand the need to prioritise spending it is disgraceful that the cuts are focussing on services for local communities.”