The church is located in Rosskeen Cemetery near the Donkey Bridge which serves both Invergordon and Alness, and residents fear that a private developer might turn the kirk into something totally unsuitable for a burial ground.

Margret Macpherson, a member of Invergordon Community Council, visits the churchyard regularly to pay respects to her son Ian, known as "Geedee", who died four years ago of a brain tumour, aged 41.

"I was horrified when I heard the council is considering selling off the church and I was almost in tears," said Mrs Macpherson.

"It's grossly insensitive to think about doing this. This is the main cemetery for Invergordon, and it's also used by Alness, and I can't imagine any use that would be appropriate for that building except to leave it as it is.

"I get great comfort from going to visit Ian's grave, and I also have aunts and many other relatives buried there.

"People will be up in arms when they hear about this plan. There are a lot of young people buried there who have died in tragic circumstances, and there will be great emotion felt about this issue.

"Can you imagine if the church was turned into flats and residents were coming and going as funerals were taking place. It's unthinkable."

The church has been out of use since the 1950s and is one of a number of properties that are considered as surplus to the operational requirements of the council's planning and development service.

At the council planning committee meeting today (Thursday), councillors will be asked to agree the release of Old Rosskeen Church.

Speaking of her concern, Easter Ross Highland councillor Maxine Smith said: "Whilst I understand that the council has to sell off unused assets, they have to take care to be sensitive to where these buildings are and what they might be used for if sold into the private sector.

"I would be concerned that if this building were taken into a developer's hands they might wish to apply for planning for a use that the public did not find acceptable.

"People's loved ones are buried in this cemetery and I do not want to see a development that is insensitive to this and one where it means folk have to trample near graves for access - this is most definitely not acceptable."

Cllr Smith believed there was a case to be made for keeping certain assets, like the church, in the public domain in order to protect their usage.

She said: "I realise that whatever plans came forward would have to be passed for planning permission by a committee but I would worry that other councillors from outwith this ward may not see it as sensitive as we obviously do.

"I will be urging the council to reconsider its options and if they do decide to go ahead, they must consult widely and fully with the locals as to how its future usage could be curtailed and monitored effectively."

A council spokeswoman said no decision had yet been taken.

She said: "All we're asking at the moment is that these properties be declared surplus to the requirements of the planning service.

"It may be that later in the process it is decided that the church is not suitable for selling, in which case it will be mothballed."

editor@north-star-news.co.uk

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