THERE is a "shrinking capacity" at Fife Council's cemeteries as they're running out of land for burial plots.

And options to be outlined in the New Year could include one large site for the whole of the Kingdom.

Earlier this year, the council said Dunfermline would be without burial plots by 2047 while the cemeteries at Hillend and Douglas Bank near Rosyth have just 18 and 12 years left.

At a scrutiny committee last week, Councillor Andy Jackson said: "We know that land is very finite nowadays and it's difficult trying to find land for people who wish to be buried.

"At Dunfermline Cemetery I know that's coming up, I know it's an issue and wonder how it's going to be addressed.

"I know a lot of people now opt for cremation but is there still a lot more land and capacity for burials?"

Alan Paul, head of property services, said: "Fife has roughly 115 cemeteries and, of those, about half take active interments.

"Of that half, we're probably at the point we have exhausted the sale of lairs for 10 or so of those cemeteries.

"That leaves us with a shrinking capacity to support burials longer-term."

He added: "One of the challenges we have is just the sheer number of our cemeteries and there's a very strong, almost emotional, attachment between cemetery provision and towns and villages.

"I'm very conscious of that but I'm also very conscious, however, we need a sustainable solution going forward."

There's an average of around 900 burials in Fife every year, with around a third of these requiring new lairs to be allocated.

Earlier this year, the council said they would have to consider a range of options. While some sites could be extended, limited land availability means this couldn't be done for all cemeteries.

Acquiring one site for the whole of Fife was put forward as a long-term option but it would be the highest capital cost and lead to increased travel times for most users.

Mr Paul said: "There is some provision for some funding in the capital plan and our plan is that, over the course of the first two or three months of next year, we will consult more widely on options and to share some information about where we have those capacity issues.

"I guess in addition to that pure demand and supply position, there is a recognition of further issues that need to be considered, one of those would be environmental issues and the arrival of green burials and the like.

"And one would be recognition that there are different faith groups now in Fife than perhaps we have had historically, and their needs might be better met in a slightly different way.

"Those are the sorts of issues we want to seek feedback on with a view to producing a new cemetery strategy some time next year.

"That will inform the investment in our cemeteries going forward."

Asked about the current capacity of the cemeteries in Dunfermline and Rosyth, Mr Paul said he would get back to Cllr Jackson with the details.

He added: "Douglas Bank is an example of the age of some of our cemeteries. It was bought by the Navy after the Battle of Jutland."