Moray Council provides update on Clovenside Cemetery as works remain incomplete
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MORAY Council has confirmed that works to prevent flooding at Clovenside Cemetery in Forres remain unfinished, with no timescale for completion.
It was announced in August that the graveyard behind Forbeshill, which is often flooded, would be subject to £56,000 worth of drainage improvements.
Due to the awkward gradient the cemetery is on, the plan was to build a rain garden in its centre – filled with native shrubs – to prevent serious flooding.
Work began on September 6 and, according to signs at the cemetery, should have lasted "approximately four weeks".
More than three months on, the rain garden has been dug out but ground works remain incomplete and the planting of shrubs in the garden has not begun.
Moray Council has said remaining works are subject to "contractor availability" with no timescale for completion.
A council spokesperson said: "We can confirm that the creation of the rain garden has been carried out.
"However, there are ground finishing works and planting that remain to be completed.
"In addition, there are further drainage remedial works associated with path levels and a soakaway to be installed to alleviate the risk of ponding in the lowest point of the cemetery.
"Remaining works are subject to ground conditions, weather and contractor availability."
Councillor Aaron McLean (Forres, SNP) said: "I really hope that the planting a new soakaway are done soon.
"With the heavy and sustained downpours we get nowadays there continues to be ponding and what has been done so far is not adequate to combat that."
Clovenside Cemetery was particularly badly affected by a downpour in October 2020, which left several locals calling for more adequate drainage.
