It is now less than 24 hours before we deliver our verbal deputation to Edinburgh Council's Culture & Communities committee tomorrow morning, the 8th of August.
We, and the counter petition, have submitted our written deputations (including associated documentation) - you can download the PDF and read these yourself at this link: https://t.ly/BvJpH
Wish us luck for tomorrow. We feel we have a strong case.
You can watch the live video broadcast, or watch the archived video later, of all the verbal deputations being delivered at this link. The meeting starts at 10am UK time. Deputations will be one of the first agenda items: https://t.ly/U5Jju
Let us finish this last update before proceedings tomorrow with a perfect example of the rank hypocrisy of the counter petition author "Monti Stramka" (not their real name). This individual will be delivering their verbal deputation remotely tomorrow, via Teams.
In an update posted just yesterday, after reading our own written deputation, and more importantly, other written deputations from Edinburgh residents directly affected by this issue, such as the 76 year old mother whose daughter died tragically young, and is bothered by dog walkers in Rosebank cemetery when visiting her daughters grave, or the lady whose mother rests in Morningside cemetery, and is upset by dogs off lead in the cemetery - this poor lady recently put her hand in dog faeces whilst tending to her mother's grave....
"Monti Stramka" writes:
"want to say we really feel for the people who have written personal stories and we wish you no offence or hurt at all"
"we advocate for respectful, responsible cemetery use by all and education for the minority not following rules. "
Remember - pre 2022, Edinburgh Council's Cemetery Management Rules were "no dogs apart from assistance dogs"
This individual has openly admitted that they and their family have been regularly breaking the Cemetery Management Rules re dogs, for four decades.
The very first two lines of their petition says:
"I have been visiting my family in our local cemetery for over four decades. Throughout these years, a faithful canine companion has often accompanied either myself or myself and other family members".
The stench of rank hypocrisy is overwhelming...
A perfect example of the selfish, entitled attitude of some dog walkers, who do not think the rules apply to them.