ANCIENT graves at Dunfermline Abbey look set to be moved as part of a £120,000 plan to make it easier to visit the burial place of Robert the Bruce.

Fife Council are set to try, try and try again to improve disabled access at the 12th century site and are looking at moving ancient remains to allow it to happen.

They withdrew a planning application in June over concerns about breaking ‘sacred’ ground but are now ready to make a grave decision.

Area services manager Joe McGuinness explained, “The disabled access improvements at the Abbey are taking some time.

“Because of the significance of the building as Bruce’s burial site, as well as being a category A-listed building that’s on Historic Scotland’s scheduled monument list, they are very stringent about what is allowed and what isn’t.

“We are confident of finding a solution but it’s not straightforward and won’t be cheap.” The council are looking for planning permission for a disabled access ramp, steps and balustrades at the Abbey.

At present, wheelchair access is by the vestry door on the east side of the building.

The original project would have seen access improved to coincide with a rise in the expected number of visitors to the Abbey for the 700th anniversary of Bruce’s famous victory at Bannockburn.

But the council went homeward to think again after concerns that the foundations for the improvements would disturb old graves.

Mr McGuinness continued, “We’re trying to find a solution that minimises the reinterment of graves at that end of the building.

“Hopefully it will just be one or two rather than any more than that.

“It’s done quite regularly according to Historic Scotland but there is a process you have to go through to move ancient graves.” The Abbey attracts around 20,000 visitors a year but that was expected to double this year with many flocking to view the last resting place of the Scots warrior king.

The City of Dunfermline area committee had pledged £100,000 – the Abbey and Dunfermline Carnegie Trust were set to contribute £20,000 – from the £1million pot given last year by the council to regenerate the city.