Brent Council amends PSPO to require dogs to be kept on a lead at all times in Paddington Old Cemetery

 

A letter from a reader on the Brent Council consultation about dogs in Paddington Old Cemetery last October  received many comments and indicated the strength of feeling on the issue

Letter:Brent Council is using heavily biased language in its Paddington Old Cemeterydog PSPO consultation - what are their real plans?

 

The Council yesterday issued a statement following the consultation giving their decision but provided no data or quotations to evidence the decsion :

 

Dogs will be required to be kept on leads at all times in Paddington Old Cemetery from Monday 10 March.

 

This new requirement is part of an existing Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) which has been varied following a comprehensive public consultation where 860 people shared their views.

 

PSPOs are legal measures that impose conditions on public places where there has been a nuisance which has had a detrimental effect on the community. PSPO conditions apply to everyone equally. They are designed to enhance public safety and improve the quality of life for all residents.

Paddington Old Cemetery is an active burial ground that over recent years has also become a valued local community space. Its increasing popularity with dog walkers has raised serious concerns among grave owners, mourners and other users of the cemetery.

 

The public consultation, held between 18 October and 10 December 2024, asked members of the public their opinions on dog behaviour within the cemetery. This also included grave owners and mourners who lived further afield.

 

Prior to the consultation, the council received 74 complaints regarding dog behaviour at the cemetery, including: dogs defecating and urinating on graves, dogs running uncontrolled near funeral services and unwanted dog interactions. In contrast, no complaints were reported in the council’s three other cemeteries where dogs are required to be on leads.

 

The council has carefully considered all viewpoints, taking into account the public response and the serious concerns raised. As a result, the existing PSPO has been varied so that dogs are now required to be kept on leads in Paddington Old Cemetery.

 

These changes aim to preserve a peaceful and respectful environment for Paddington Old Cemetery users while ensuring responsible dog owners can continue to access the cemetery. It also brings the dogs on leads requirement in line with all of Brent’s cemeteries.

 

The existing PSPO requirements also remain in effect:

• A maximum of four dogs may be walked by one person at a time.
• Dog waste must be picked up immediately and disposed of properly in provided bins or taken away.

 

Councillor Harbi Farah, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Jobs and Skills, said:

 

We would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their views with us. 

 

While many responsible dog owners value the cemetery as a place for walking their dogs, the number of serious concerns raised made it clear that action was needed. 

 

We understand that dogs are an important part of people's lives, which is why we will continue to allow dog walking here, rather than banning them altogether. However, dogs must be kept on leads, in line with the well-established policy in our other cemeteries where we have received no complaints. 

 

This new PSPO requirement aims to strike a fair, balanced and proportionate approach, ensuring the cemetery remains a peaceful and respectful place while still allowing responsible dog walking. 

 

The council is committed to working with all users of the cemetery and will establish a Paddington Old Cemetery Liaison Group.

 

The consultation highlighted a number of areas that the council will now explore. These include:

• Designated off-lead area - Considering the creation of a designated enclosed off-lead dog area within a section of the cemetery, subject to further consultation with residents.
• Parking review - Local parking controls are set to be reviewed.
• A review of local CCTV arrangements.
• Tiverton Green improvements - Exploring options to introduce self-closing gates at nearby Tiverton Green to better support off-lead dog walking, and create a safer environment for dogs.