Vehicle access 'causing untold damage' at Wick cemetery
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Moves are being made to limit access for cars entering Wick cemetery because of damage that is being caused to some of the graves.
In future, members of the public wishing to drive vehicles into the graveyard may have to do so under supervision and using a combination padlock.
The proposed restrictions were outlined by Highland Council leader Councillor Raymond Bremner at the March meeting of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council. He also suggested that some motorists were showing a lack of respect by driving too fast.
There are gates at the top and bottom of the cemetery for pedestrians and wheelchair users. In between, two other entrances are easily wide enough for vehicles.
Councillor Bremner, who represents Wick and East Caithness on Highland Council, said: "We've mentioned it before, vehicle access to that cemetery is causing untold damage.
"We've talked about immediate restriction of access to the cemetery because we can't afford the damage.
"You've seen them – they're reversing onto the graves, they're now damaging lairs, there has been damage to headstones. There has been little respect in terms of the speed that some folk are doing in there, so they are looking at restricting access.
"We would like your feedback on this."
Suggesting a combination padlock, Councillor Bremner said: "Whatever we start with, we'll try it and if it doesn't work because people abuse it then we'll try something else.
"There would only be authorised access when somebody is there, like the cemetery workers. That might be when they can have limited access but monitored – but, with the exception of that, for it to be restricted.
"This is a suggestion, but you would get the code for the lock at the service point. We're thinking that maybe it would be people who genuinely need access that would go to the bother of getting that access code."
He emphasised that mobility scooters and wheelchairs would still be able to go in through the other gates.
"It is the vehicles that are causing the damage," Councillor Bremner said. "It's just understanding that if somebody requires vehicular access then it has to be under supervised access."
