A NEW Islamic cemetery could be created on green belt land to cope with Glasgow's growing Islamic population and the inevitable increase in deaths.

The site has been identified because the city's Muslim community is running out of space to bury its dead. Fewer than 100 plots remain at the existing graveyard in Cathcart – less than a year's supply.

An application to develop land capable of holding 7500 plots on the edge of Castlemilk will today go before a planning sub-committee of the city council, which owns the site.

If agreed, a formal planning application would follow from Jamiat Ittihad-ul-Muslimin, the 16-strong body that represents the Muslim community in Glasgow. However, because the 31 acres of so-called "rough grazing" fields at Windlaw Farm are in a green belt, full planning consent from the council would be required, along with other agreements.

Ashraf Anjum, for the proposed tenant, stressed the need for urgency for what would be Glasgow's third Islamic graveyard. Another, at Barlanark, is already full...

...Proposed terms include the organisation leasing the land for an annual rent of £1 for some 75 years, with around 100 burials a year...

...Conditions also include the Muslim group taking ownership of the land when the lease runs out, subject to "having maintained the cemetery to the council's satisfaction".

The proposed site extends to 12.5 hectares and could be ready for use within 12 to 18 months of a planning application which is expected to include a public consultation exercise. More ground could be released on a phased basis, again subject to maintenance safeguards.

The area includes a large marsh well-known for ornithological interests and other wildlife such as frogs and toads...

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/41267.html

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