North London cemetery 'plagued by dogs attacking people and defecating on graves' as off-lead ban mooted
Plans to ban dogs off leads in a North London cemetery where the creator of Paddington Bear is buried have been paused following a backlash from local residents. Brent Council was looking to enforce a 'dogs on lead' rule in Paddington Old Cemetery due to the 'poor management' by owners, however, a petition signed by nearly 500 residents has halted the plan.
As part of a borough-wide Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), the council initially intended to begin enforcing the rule at the cemetery from October 1 following an 'increasing number of complaints' about dog behaviour, including defecating 'on the graves of loved ones'. Enforcement has now been postponed whilst a public consultation takes place.
Coredlia Uys, a member of Dogs of Paddington Old Cemetery - a group of more than 100 dog owners - claims 'freedom to run and exercise' is crucial to a canine's physical health and a ban would be 'using a sledgehammer to crack a nut'. Her petition on the council website, which calls for a 'fair, open, transparent and balanced' consultation, has reached 481 signatures (accurate at the time of publication).
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The petition reads: "As responsible dog walkers, we understand the importance of dogs being exercised in a manner appropriate to the location. Many of us visit family graves and enjoy seeing our dogs exercise off leash."
It adds: "As one of the few places in the area that allows dogs off lead, Paddington Old Cemetery has become a social hub for dog owners. It offers space for community bonding and mutual support among residents. Restricting dogs to on-lead only would discourage many from visiting, as dogs require the freedom to run and exercise, which is crucial for their physical health.
"Removing the ability to walk dogs off lead in Paddington Old Cemetery would lead to a decline in the mental and physical health and well-being of many Brent residents. The community benefits from the access to nature that [the cemetery] provides and the camaraderie among dog walkers."
Paddington Old Cemetery, a Grade II listed green space and graveyard in Kilburn, is an increasingly popular location for owners to take their dogs for walks. The cemetery first opened in 1855 and has a number of notable burials, including the author of the Paddington Bear books, Michael Bond, and historian Edward Spencer Beesly.
It is currently the only cemetery in Brent that permits dogs to be walked off leads, however, owners can still be fined up to £1,000 for failing to pick up and dispose of dog mess; losing control of their dog; or walking more than four dogs at a time.
Brent Council claims that, despite acknowledging that 'the vast majority' of dog owners act responsibly, it has received a number of complaints that users of the cemetery are being disturbed. These include dogs urinating and defecating on graves, walking over grave sites, and disturbing live burials. Founder of Dogs of Paddington Old Cemetery, Eleni Chalmers, criticised the consultation's 'leading questions' and described the language used as 'loaded'.
Cabinet Member for Public Safety and Partnerships, Cllr Harbi Farah, said: "The consultation was launched in response to a growing number of complaints about dog behaviour in the cemetery, including dogs urinating and defecating on graves, being out of control near mourners, and incidents of dog attacks - behaviour that is completely unacceptable in a place of remembrance."
He added: "This consultation will be key to determining the future requirements of the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in place at the cemetery and we encourage all visitors to Paddington Old Cemetery to have their say. The consultation is open now and runs until Tuesday, December 10."
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