Back in August, the district council launched the first stage of its consultation on controlling dogs in public spaces, asking for any interested parties to put in requests for changes to the current 2023 Public Space Protection Orders by 30th September, to be included in the full public consultation process happening in the spring.
The Cherishing Sidmouth’s Cemeteries group has put in such a request to change the current PSPO.
Here are the details of the submission made by the Vision Group for Sidmouth on behalf of its project, the Cherishing Sidmouth’s Cemeteries group:
The EDDC Cemeteries regulation No 33 states “No dog will be permitted to enter or remain in any cemetery unless kept continuously on a lead and under proper control. Any fouling must be cleaned up and removed from the cemetery.”
This is not enforced – possibly because there is no legal restriction in place (PSPO) and consequently no penalties. Members of the public and members of the Cherishing Sidmouth’s Cemeteries group, who provide a regular volunteer working party to help maintain Sidmouth Cemetery, feel that dogs off the lead cause a public nuisance, in particular the fouling on paths and the graveyards.
It is understood that once an order is in place, that members of the public can then report offences to EDDC at Report a dog off lead or in banned area – East Devon and Report dog fouling – East Devon
It is also understood that it would provide a deterrent if notices were put up explaining what the consequences could be.
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The requested area to be covered is Sidmouth Cemetery.
These photos were provided as supporting evidence to demonstrate that the current PSPO requires changing:
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Provisional notices put up by members of the Cherishing Sidmouth Cemeteries working party, with permission of EDDC officers.
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Photographs of dog mess in Sidmouth Cemetery
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