Brent Council has opened a public consultation to seek feedback on regulations for dogs in Paddington Old Cemetery, Kilburn.
After the escalating concerns about dog behaviour, the council is urging residents to feed back on whether to keep the current rules or introduce new requirements, such as having dogs on leads at all times in the cemetery.
The PSPO (Public Spaces Protection Order), for which the more than seven week long consultation concerns, is a legal set of conditions on the use of the area which residents use as a cemetery and dog park.
Councillor Harbi Farah, Cabinet Member for Public Safety and Partnerships, said: “Maintaining a peaceful and respectful environment at Paddington Old Cemetery, which honours the memory of loved ones, is vitally important.
“Over recent years, the cemetery has also become a valued green space for local dog walkers, but this shift has raised concerns among grave owners, visitors, and mourners.
“We have received serious complaints about dogs urinating and defecating on graves, being out of control near mourners, and even incidents of dog attacks – behaviour that is completely unacceptable in a place of remembrance.
“Our enforcement team is onsite to ensure compliance with the current requirements, with fines of up to £1,000 for dog owners who fail to adhere to the rules.
Alongside this, we are conducting a full review of the PSPO and its requirements. As part of this process, we need to hear from you.”
Cllr Farah urged all Paddington Old Cemetery visitors to have their say in the consultation, and that feedback was essential for shaping future regulations and creating a safe environment.
The current rules are:
- Dogs must be kept under control at all times, within eyesight, and must respond when called. If your dog is not under your control, you will be instructed to put the dog on a lead.
- Dog waste must be picked up immediately and disposed of properly in the bins provided or taken away.
- A maximum of four dogs may be walked by one person at a time.
The consultation will run from Friday today until Tuesday 10 December and can be accessed here.
Join the discussion