*EDIT 04/072024* please note after posting this update the other petition changed the update from themselves that we had written about. We still feel our discussion is relevent, we will discuss this in future updates.
It should be noted that at the present time the other petition has not acknowledged that they changed their post nor have they apologised for misleading readers or falsely accusing someone of breaking Edinburgh council cemetery rules.
Hi all
Many thanks to our new and continuing signers, sharers and surprise donators - please remember whilst we hugely appreciate any donations we understand times are hard and would never ask this of you.
It is less than a month till the meeting where councillors will discuss the rules in relation to dogs in cemeteries - if you don't believe dogs should be banned (with excemptions) please:
- Keep sharing this petition
- Write to your local councillor or
- Members of the comittee on the board that decides these rules.
- You can even give a written or spoken despotition to the comittee yourself.
- Vote on the Scotsman article
As always you can contact us at:
cemeteries4all@yahoo.com
Other contact details can be found at the end of this update.
In today's update we'd like to remind people of the rules in cemeteries, especially the two we feel are most important in relation to today's update from the other petition.
General - the following acts are prohibited:
1.1 Behaviour which causes (or in the opinion of a Council Officer is likely to cause) annoyance, offence, alarm or distress to any other Cemetery visitor.
Dogs and Horses – the following acts are prohibited
3.1 Failing to keep your dog on a lead whilst in the cemetery.
The full cemetery rules:
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/33467/cemetery-management-rules
Taking photographs of someone in a cemetery may or may not be breaking the law, it depends how you view it see this article for further discussion:
https://www.setfords.co.uk/2024/03/22/do-individuals-in-the-uk-have-a-right-to-privacy/
However, do we believe it violates rule 1.1. of Edinburgh Council’s Cemetery rules.
We personally find it distressing that someone may be taking photos of us visiting our resting loved ones in what we consider a place of personal privacy and most certainly a personal moment. We would also imagine others do as well. Whilst photos are not taken of people at graves no one can be certain they are not on their way to or from a grave, unless the person is followed (stalked?) which could most certainly be distressing for someone.
We are quite saddened by a world that focuses so much on whether they can or can't do something (we're taking law not cemetery rules) they forget to ask if they should.
Would the people taking these photographs like for their photo to be taken and put online incorrectly stating they were breaking the rules in a hotly contested issue? What if they were coming back from visiting a relatives grave on their anniversary or something similar? We personally find this scenario beyond distasteful and hope the other petition takes some time to reflect upon this.
Today's photo from the other petition was titled "long lead used". Whilst the person's face was blanked out they may be able to be recognised by other features or even their dog.
They are being presented by the other petition as breaking current rules (which they are clearly not) and thus potentially opening the person, the dog and anyone with the dog to abuse in relation to this.
You can quite clearly see from rule 3.5 the rule relates to dogs being on lead and there is no specification about length of lead.
Whilst it may be preferable by some not to use a lead this length it is NOT in the rules and therefore, at the present time, not against any rules and is not "wrong".
What if I would like humans eating in a cemeteries banned (with excemptions for medical needs and eating related to mourning) as I think it would reduce litter and don't see it as necessary. I'm not going to watch for somone eating food in a cemetery, take their photo then post it online stating it is against rules - I would be laughed out of Edinburgh if I did and the person would most likely and quite rightly put in a complaint to the council about me.
List of your local Councillors:
https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0
List of who is due to be at the committee meeting including committee members:
https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/mgMeetingAttendance.aspx?ID=7281
Website where further information will be posted in relation to the meetings, we understand around a week before the meeting:
https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=139&MId=7281
The Scotsman article where you can place your vote (it is not binding in any way):