**PLEASE NOTE** Our comments on the other petition's posts, any posts from their supporters posts or any media coverage are correct at the time of writing - their information may or may not be changed which could impact on the relevance and accuracy of what we post but this is outwith our control - we do not have the capacity to keep checking their posts for changes

Hi all

Thankyou to everyone supporting us and the people we are fighting for!

It's only 1 more sleep until councillors will discuss rules in cemeteries including dog rules - tomorrow is the Culture and Communities Committee meeting!

Remember whatever is decided you can share your opinion on the matter. Please see the end of this post for more details.
 
You can email us at:

cemeteries4all@yahoo.com 

Today the council emailed us to say that instead of 5 minutes to talk we have 3 minutes! 

We know from viewing deputations in the past that people do severely go overtime but cannot chance this so will try our best to convey this complex issue in 3 minutes.

Given the evidence shared by the council and ourselves in comparison to the information shared by the other petition we feel confident that if councillors decide matters using evidence we have a chance. 

Today the BBC reported on the issue online and we would like to highlight this statement:

"Councillors have told the BBC they are open-minded on the issue and that the recommendations have to be balanced against the strength of feeling in the community."

We are a little unsure of what exactly this means but do hope they remain open minded and hear both sides of the story.

Although this BBC article does appear more balanced than other media reports on the issue we would like to state that they failed to include that mourners with dogs started the petition and our supporters include mourners.

We would also like to state that we ourselves gave an interview which has been excluded, we have been informed this is because we wish to remain anonymous for our safety.

The BBC themselves interviewed at least two people who discussed behaviours directed at dogs walkers so should understand this fear but instead appearred to dismiss it as well as appearing to dismiss the information given about behaviours towards dog walkers by people who were brave enough to speak about their experiences of behaviours.

We understand this is not the fault of the reporter who was very supportive and keen to show the unheard side of this issue but due to editors who were debating whether or not to even run the article as they didn't have an interview from Paul who we understand declined to be interviewed.

BBC article:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gel0wy44vo

We do hope that councillors handle the matter in a more balanced fair way and are actually willing to hear both sides and decide on rules with the mindset that this is about all people who may visit cemeteries not just one person or one group of people who may not be representative of all mourners who have loved ones in our council cemeteries. 

Yes, mourners are important in relation to cemetery rules but our counter-petition includes mourners who do not agree with the other petition.

Our petition also includes rule abiding people who visit cemeteries not as mourners but for many widely socially accepted reasons - they will also be affected by any rules changes.

Nothing is guaranteed on this issue except that we have and will continue to do our best for our supporters to keep cemetries4all respectful, responsible cemetery visitors.

You can view the meeting live tomorrow at 10am or at anytime that suits you after this time at: https://edinburgh.public-i.tv/core/portal/home

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We advocate for respectful, responsible cemetery use by all and education for the minority not following rules. Below are some of our concerns in relation to a ban on dogs (with or without exemptions).

• Mourners who may be disadvantaged by any form of ban on dogs and not able to grieve as is helpful to them.
• The deceased resting in our cemeteries who may have loved dogs in life and like to see them in death
• There are many socially accepted reasons one might visit a cemetery why should somone miss out on this because they have a well behaved dog on lead causing no issues
• Women and vunerable groups state they feel safer with a dog in a cemetery - should be take away their safety net? Remember they may be a mourner
• People with dogs can and do help in cemeteries
• The footfall of dogs may offer cemetery inhabitants and visitors protection from unwanted or illegal behaviour
• The no dogs rule pre covid was not enforced or adhered to in at least 2 cemeteries (all if you believe some council officials) - what would this rule actually to do improve the behaviours of the minority of rule breakers?
• If a ban was brought in but not enforced by the coincil would this lead to individuals self policing cemeteries possibly incorrectly and inappropriately?
• Is it porportionate and just to remove a rule abiding majority for a minority of rule breakers in a minority of cemeteries
• The list of aspects could go on but we feel that is enough to demonstrate how complicated this matter truely is.

Let's keep cemetries4all responsible, respectful people!

Official current cemetery rules: 
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/33467/cemetery-management-rules

 
You can still share your opinion even after the meeting tomorrow, below are some contacts:

Write to your local councillor - List of your local Councillors:
https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0
 
Write to committe members who will discuss and decide on cemetery rules - List of who is due to be at the committee meeting including committee members:
https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/mgMeetingAttendance.aspx?ID=7281