A NEW cemetery in Dunbar has been given the go-ahead, although it is not known when it will open.

A total of 2,000 lairs, 700 ashes-only lairs and an area of woodland burial space will be created at Newtonlees, on the eastern edge of the town.

The announcement brings to an end fears that the town would be left without any burial space.

Deer Park Cemetery, opposite the newly-approved burial ground, is nearly at capacity.

Now, the new cemetery is expected to serve the people of Dunbar and surrounding area for at least 50 years.

The announcement was welcomed by ward councillor Norman Hampshire, who was keen to see the new cemetery opened quickly.

He said: “It will take time for people to do the work they have to do to get the facility into a place that can be used.

“I know Stuart Pryde [council principal amenities officer] and his team have been ready and waiting for this to happen.”

Deer Park Cemetery, which has 1,300 lairs, opened in 1953 and is expected, according to the council, to reach capacity by the summer of next year.

Plans to extend the cemetery fell through, with the council then forced to look for land for a new cemetery.

Currently, the new site is being used as agricultural land but work is expected to begin in the near future on transforming the 1.2-hectare site off the A1087.

According to the planning officer’s report: “The supporting information submitted with the application states that the burial site is required to meet both the immediate needs of Dunbar town but also to serve the needs of the wider cluster of communities for the next 50-70 years in accordance with the council’s approved Burial Ground Strategy.

“The general layout of the Newtonlees Cemetery reflects best practice in terms of modern burial ground provision.

“The layout affords a degree of choice from traditional coffin interment through interment of cremated remains and an allocation of space for natural burial within a meadow/woodland area which will, as it develops, also provide an enhanced setting for the facility.”

The cemetery is part of larger plans for the site, which were first discussed by councillors in 2017.

At that time, plans for more than 100 houses on land at Newtonlees Farm were approved, despite the area of land being outwith the sites identified at that stage by the council’s Local Development Plan and recommended for refusal by the local authority’s planning officers.

At that time, the vote was tied at 4-4, with Mr Hampshire given the casting vote.

A spokeswoman for East Lothian Council said details were still to be finalised before a date could be confirmed for the cemetery opening.

She added: “Having secured approval and agreement to purchase the ground, we can now ensure that local burial space supply will continue for the area without risk of a break in service.”