Barrier to cars put up at Perthshire kirkyard to stop loch parties gets in the way of family hoping to visit the graves of loved ones

A close-knit Perthshire family are angry at being blocked from visiting family graves and paying their respects before Christmas.

They hit out after they were refused the code for a road barrier blocking access to the graves of their loved ones.

Siblings Margaret (53) Joseph (55) and William Townsley (63) have 12 family members buried in Clunie Churchyard.

At the country kirkyard close to Loch Clunie some distance outside Blairgowrie, the graves of generations of their mother’s family are grouped together.

There are the headstones of their parents, grand-parents, great-grand-parents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

But on a recent weekday visit, the three siblings, who each suffer from COPD and find walking difficult, were unable to drive to the grave site as a metal barrier has been placed across the road which requires a code to open the gate for cars.

Members of the Townsley family - pictured here are Margaret Townsley with great nephew Joe - walked to Clunie Church graveyard but they were worried they could not get access by car as there was a metal barrier across the road stopping vehicles (Perthshire Advertiser)

The barrier was put in place by the landowner to prevent ‘dirty campers’ visiting Loch Clunie from mis-using the graveyard after trouble during lockdown with parties and drinking. It has been in place for over two years.

The gate code is known to locals living nearby Clunie Church but when asked, they said they could not share the code.

“We spoke to the minister last year and she said and that it would only be possible to be let through the barrier,” Margaret told the PA.

“We live far away, me in Glasgow, Joe in Glenrothes and William in Aberdeen. It just seems crazy we cannot go and see our loved ones when we wish, at a time of our choice, without a hike along a muddy track. I’ve never seen a graveyard with a barrier.

"I've never seen a graveyard with a barrier," said Margaret Townsley who had come a big distance as had her brothers Joe and Willie to pay their respects to 12 family members buried at Clunie Church (Perthshire Advertiser)

“None of us are keeping well and we need to get the car close. People should be able to understand that?

“We passed a Perth and Kinross Council truck and we asked if the driver would let us through the barrier. Again he said no, he knew the code but could not grant our car access.

“My mother has been in the ground 24 years, my father 37 years. We want to visit them and all the others we hold dear.”

Her older brother Joseph Townsley said: “It’s disgraceful that they say they will not give us the code.”

After the PA contacted Perth and Kinross Council, a spokesperson said: “We apologise for unintended impact on the Townsley family, and the inconvenience caused to them in visiting family graves.

“The barrier was put in place by the local estate, not the council, to stop camping at Loch Clunie.

“If the Townsley family would like to contact Perth Crematorium on 01738 459659 we will provide any necessary assistance to give them access.”