LAND for a new cemetery has been earmarked at the south-eastern corner of Haddington.

The near-four-hectare plot of land was highlighted in the proposed local development plan, which was given the green light at East Lothian Council’s meeting last month.

The site, to the south of Briery Bank and west of Gifford Road, could host several thousand lairs and take the pressure off the existing cemeteries in the town.

Currently, the town is home to two cemeteries, at St Mary’s Parish Church and St Martin’s, off Whittingehame Drive. The St Mary’s cemetery is closed to new interments but existing family plots may still have some capacity.

Meanwhile, St Martin’s Cemetery was extended in 2000 and is thought to have a further 25-30 years of use.

In March last year, East Lothian Council published its burial ground strategy, which considered both the provision and management of burial grounds across the county.

At the same time, it aimed to plan to meet the needs of the community for the next 50 to 75 years.

A spokeswoman for East Lothian Council said: “Obtaining land for expansion of burial provision is not a simple process, as ideally communities would wish such use to be near existing burial grounds and centres of population and not a new area in a more remote location.”

It is thought a 3.85-hectare site, like that in Haddington, could accommodate somewhere between 6,000 and 7,000 lairs, depending on various studies being carried out to assess the suitability of the ground.

A detailed planning application would have to be drawn up, with consultations with the community, before any move to create the burial ground got the go ahead.

Jan Wilson, chairwoman of the town’s community council, noted it was something the town would inevitably need in the future.

She was unsure if the site to the south of Briery Bank was the best possible location but added: “You are going to have to put it on the outskirts of Haddington. There is nowhere in the town centre and Briery Bank is good a place as any.”

Just over two years ago, planning permission was given to open East Lothian’s first crematorium, north of the A1, just outside Haddington.

The plans to convert Alderston House faced opposition amid claims it could lead to the loss of dozens of potential jobs and put the future of one of Scotland’s leading dairy farms in jeopardy.

But it was given the go-ahead by nine votes to eight at a council meeting, with all three of the town’s councillors voting against the plans.