TWO historic graveyards in Edinburgh have been forced to close in the evenings due to so-called “cave raves”.
The Category A-listed site, Old Calton Burial Ground, and the nearby New Calton Burial Ground in the Scottish capital have both been the site of “many police incidents” and growing anti-social behaviour as the local authority have been forced to intervene, according to the Scotsman.
Edinburgh City Council said both graveyards have been forced to close at night due to “cave raves” where young people have been underage drinking, drug-taking, and abusing the public and visitors.
Responding to a freedom of information (FOI) request from the Scotsman, the local authority confirmed the overnight closures and said it would “free up” the operational police officers who patrolled the area.
Edinburgh City Council said: “The New Calton Burial Ground has been closed due to anti-social behaviour from young people, initially taking place in Old Calton cemetery, with many police incidents which led to the closure of the burial ground in evenings.
“These were being presented as ‘cave raves’, with underage drinking, drug-taking and abuse of the public and visitors.
“On discovering that Old Calton cemetery was locked, they moved on to carrying out their activities in New Calton cemetery which has facilitated the need to lock the burial ground overnight.
“Closure of the two cemeteries has also removed the need for operational police officers to be there at evenings and allowing them to be freed up for other duties. This will be reviewed and assessed after a suitable time.”
First opened in 1718, The Old Calton Burial Ground is a historic site in the capital and is the final resting place of several notable figures, including the philosopher David Hume and political reformer Thomas Muir.
New Calton Burial Ground, which is around half a mile to the east of The Old Calton Burial Ground, was opened in 1820 as an overspill graveyard and includes a Category B-listed watchtower.
It also holds the final resting place for many notable figures, including family members of Robert Louis Stevenson.
