**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
Many many thanks to all our supporters for helping make yesterday's descision by councillors - not to ban dogs in Edinburgh Cemeteries.
As always you can contact us at: cemeteries4all@yahoo.com
We did, however, have one councillor who was very strongly for a ban on dogs and her proposal was seconded by someone in her party (Scottish Labour).
Sadly at times councillors do appear to get involved in party politics, such as, I'll support you on X if you support me on Y so we don't feel quite safe to say the matter is truely over just yet.
We would ask everyone who uses cemeteries to please be respectful and responsible.
We would ask all dogs walkers to keep to the rules and keep dogs on leads and clean up their mess.
Is having your dog off lead so important that you feel justified in putting access to this place at risk for hundreds of others - which includes mourners with their dogs there to support them?
We don't want to sound mean or authoritative or nasty in any way but we could have lost this unique and beautiful space yesterday, we worked very hard to keep it for everyone and really don't want to have to go through this all again - it's stressful.
If anyone is inappropriate to you as a dog walker in a cemetery we would ask you not to engage and to notify the police AND the council - sharing the incident number so everything can all be matched up. Nothing can be done if people don't report issues and it makes matters more complicated to solve if people retaliate even if it is just verbal comments - plus why lower yourself in this way.
We do, however, have some good news from the other petition.
Obviously, they disagree with the decision, evidence and other matters but the main protagonist in the other petition and campaign (Paul) has stated:
"That is the end of our campaign.
It is too stressful and upsetting for me to go through this again."
Link to the full update from the petition: https://www.change.org/p/edinburgh-council-to-reinstate-no-dogs-in-cemeteries-rule-that-was-in-place-pre-covid/u/32809323
We feel for Paul and his supporters we really do but the evidence just isn't there for a ban and it would disadvantage so many rule abiding people and possibly mourners as well as our resting loved ones as well given dogs can at times provide a protective footfall - the deputation by a representative of Dalry Friends group was very clear on this view.
We are glad Paul has finished his campaign for him as much for everyone else, it is stressful for everyone to have to go through this again and again.
Further, the amount of council and councillor time and public money put into responding must have been a lot and distracted from other cemetery issues - hopefully now they will be able to better deal with issues relating to antisocial behaviours which they acknowledged yesterday although they will unfortunately have to spend God knows how much money and time on more observations.
We would like to thank Paul for his decision, we wish him well and a good recovery from the stresses of his campaign.
We are keeping this petition open for now as it seems to be the easiest way to reach people and as we still have some points to follow up alongside some potential ideas about improving other issues in our cemeteries.
Let's keep cemetries4all respectful responsible visitors - and be them ourselves.
Official current cemetery rules:
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/33467/cemetery-management-rules
Remember should you ever have any concerns about cemeteries you can contact:
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
Bereavement services (the ocuncil service who run an maintain cemeteries): bereavement@edinburgh.gov.uk
Police:
- Emergencies - 999
- Non emergencies but requiring attention - 101
- Their "contact us" page has a form for non emergencies: https://www.scotland.police.uk/contact-us/