Families upset by dog fouling at cemetery off Lee Lane
Dog fouling is a cause for concern amongst families who go to see loved ones at Great Harwood and Rishton Cemetery off Lee Lane.
Cllr Noordad Aziz has heard from multiple residents who are expressing their upset about dog fouling which is taking place at the cemetery – and he is calling for dog owners to be ‘respectful’.
He said the fouling is ‘disrespectful’ and ‘distressing for families’ and he is working alongside the cemetery office and the dog warden to prevent it from happening further.
Cllr Aziz said: “There has been dog fouling at the new Lee Lane cemetery, and it saddens me to have to say this.
“There seems to be a common complaint that things are going missing and now with dog fouling being reported as well.
“It is really upsetting because this is a place of peace and for loved ones to be remembered and you don’t want it upsetting residents.
“This is very disrespectful and very distressing for families that have loved ones buried there or have dedicated memorials to remember them.
Dog fouling (Image: Cllr Aziz)
“Residents have come to me upset, they want it to be nice and pleasant but obviously if it has got dog fouling, it is just not a pleasant place to be and it upsets residents.
“I have asked the cemetery office as well as the dog warden to look into this and see whether they can step up patrols and what preventative action they can take.
“If you have any information on dog fouling, can you let the cemetery office know.”
Cllr Aziz said this isn’t the only place where dog fouling is taking place.
He said: “Dog fouling is happening at a number of cemeteries.
“We have had complaints about dog fouling on Burnley Road in Accrington but now it seems to have moved to a different cemetery.
“It is an issue across multiple cemeteries.
“It is a minority of people who are letting their dogs foul because there are a lot of responsible dog owners but if people are taking their dogs to the cemetery just be respectful and remember that it can cause residents and families of loved ones buried there to be upset, so bare that in mind.
“If there is anything we can do to address dog fouling, I am firmly in favour of.
“Let’s tackle this together.”
If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno.