The minister and parishioners of a Stirling church have praised a community project’s efforts in a local graveyard after some original concerns were alleviated.
Stirling 4 Community (S4C) charitable community group’s application for a partial change of use of the graveyard to a memorial garden behind St Ninians Old Parish Church in Kirk Wynd was approved recently by Stirling Council’s planning panel.
The site is a cemetery for past residents of the old William Simpsons Asylum, established in 1836.
Around 75 men from William Simpson are buried in largely unmarked plots in the graveyard, which is not part of the Church’s own grounds.
S4C announced last year they had joined forces with Plean-based William Simpsons Care Home for a new project which would see a men’s wellbeing group help to improve the ground.
A number of elders and members of the St Ninians Old Parish Church congregation were among 17 people who originally objected to the application, along with the church’s minister, the Rev Gary McIntyre.
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However, the minister said the church’s objection was purely based on specific elements of the original proposals.
The objection was recently withdrawn after the church learned that those aspects which had caused concern had since been revised, including the railings to now be repainted black, having been painted red.
A letter submitted by Mr McIntyre to the planners prior to the panel hearing could not be formally presented to members due to some timing technicalities.
However, it stated: “St Ninians Old Parish Church is not opposed to the creation of a memorial garden in the William Simpson burial ground.
“On the contrary, we welcome the enhanced appearance of the ground and the work carried out by Stirling 4 Community.
“We also commend the charity for the intention to mark the graves of those who are buried in the graveyard.
“My earlier concern, and that of others within the church, had been in connection with the original application which as well as mentioning the erection of a shed mentioned the erection of a storage container which I believe would be unsightly and detrimental to the appearance of the area.
“I note, however, that reference to the storage container has been withdrawn in the revised submission, therefore, I have no concern about this matter.
“I had also been concerned about a possible issue with parking but have been reassured that no community events will be held at the time a service is taking place in the church. I have no reason to question this and therefore no concern about this matter either.”
The approved plans also involve installing a memorial notice board, a small timber shed and two sets of raised beds and planters.
