The above text is apparently from an email reply the counter petition received from an Edinburgh Councillor (the name and Party have been redacted, we have no idea why).
Let us deal with each point, one by one.
1: "there does not seem to be any middle ground with individuals again calling for an outright ban"
We have NEVER called for an "outright ban".
We have pointed this out countless times. Here is a recent update addressing just that: https://t.ly/VTqSr
Once again (we have posted this before), here is the unaltered text from Paul's original post on the I Love Morningside post he put up on the 23rd of January 2024:
“I would not want to stop anyone from visiting a grave. I know how important it is. I have already stated here that I have no problem with dogs accompanying someone to a grave (with dog on a short lead) and assistance dogs. It’s the people taking their dogs into cemeteries to exercise them that I have a problem with”.
We have offered "middle ground" right from the start.
Exceptions for assistance dogs (already covered under the Equality Act) and dogs with mourners, whether attending a funeral or visiting a loved ones resting place.
We have offered a compromise right from the start.
2: "This troubles me not only from the point of view of justification for the ban as this would be for all 43 cemeteries not just the possible handful where the issue as been alleged but also from an enforcement point of view."
It is not a "handful" of cemeteries, and nothing is "alleged". It is happening at many cemeteries and we have the evidence, both photographic and written.
We shall let the Culture & Communities Committee decide whether there is "justification" after they have seen our evidence, and read not just our Deputation, but all the other written Deputations we are submitting.
Enforcement has also been covered several times here.
In Edinburgh Council's own words, from 2022, it would not mean extra staff and resources. It would mean new signs, which in 2022, were estimated to cost approximately £1000.
We will pay £1000 towards new signs.
Other Councils we have spoken to, who enforce some type of ban, did not increase staff or visits to cemeteries. They put up strong, unambiguous signage.
Again, we have written about this, Please read this update: https://t.ly/LHZpZ
Regardless, let's remember... at it's heart, this is a cemetery issue, not a dog issue.
The Councillor who wrote the above email has obviously not read Edinburgh Council's own description of the "core purpose" of cemeteries.
Let's help them with that:
Edinburgh Council’s “Cemetery Management Rules – Outcome of Consultation Report” from 2022. you can read it yourself here https://t.ly/AjFhr
4.3.4 “Although the Council encourages appropriate use and enjoyment of the cemetery spaces, this must accord with the core purpose of the spaces. Cemeteries are places for burial and for the bereaved to visit, reflect and remember, and for contemplation in a quiet space. Any other use must not detract from that core purpose”.
4.5 “Cemeteries in Edinburgh are quiet spaces for the burial of deceased persons and cremated remains. The use of these spaces for more than this purpose is welcome, however the understanding of, and respect for, their primary purpose must remain at the heart of any other activities that take place”.
3: "We in the deleted party have not so far supported the two previous calls for an all out ban for the reasons stated above. To change that view we would need an understanding of how the situation had changed."
The situation has changed in the past two years. It is much worse.
We say to this Councillor, come along to the Committee meeting this week, on the 8th of August (assuming you are not on the Committee...then you will have all the evidence and justification you need in front of you) - introduce yourselves to Paul and I, talk to us, listen to our Deputation, ask to see our written Deputations, and the written Deputations from other residents of Edinburgh who are suffering.
Maybe then, you will have "a clearer understanding of the situation...