Hackney dog owners protest dog-off-lead ban at Abney Park Cemetery

Hackney Council is consulting about plans to expand the list of areas where dogs must be kept on a lead at all times – including Abney Park Cemetery.

The council said the plan is a response to a “large” number of letters about dog behaviour.

A petition to stop the proposal has so far been signed by more than 1,600 people, including actor Maggie Steed, star of BBC comedy Pie in the Sky.

Alexandra Hamit, who launched it, said: “The proposal feels really like overkill for something that does not seem to be a problem.”

Dog owner Louise Smith⁩ has been walking her four-legged friend in Abney Park for 10 years.

Florence and Tatiana in Abney Park. They are part of the campaign for dogs to stay off the lead in Abney Park. Photo: Abney Dog of the Day

She wrote to councillors Susan Fajana-Thomas and Gilbert Smyth to say she has never witnessed any problems, and that dog owners have transformed the park from a place that often felt unsafe into a "peaceful haven"

The retired lawyer has created the Abney Park Dogs User Group to campaign against the ban, and it already has almost 100 members.

She is particularly irritated by the "manipulative" wording of the council’s consultation.

Gemma and Reef, Abney Park. They are part of the campaign for dogs to stay off the lead in Abney Park. Photo: Abney Dog of the Day

She cited the tenth question, which asks: ‘To what extent do you agree or disagree that it is important to control the way in which people look after their dogs in shared public spaces?’

Ms Smith said: “Question 10 is quite frankly rather insulting – as if any right-thinking person would think that no controls are required in shared public spaces, such as dogs on leads in streets and certain designated places, owners picking up their dog’s waste and so forth.”

The user group has also accused the council of “scaremongering” by using an image of a dog in a children’s playground to promote its consultation.

Hackney Council is consulting over more rules to control dog behaviour. Photo: Hackney Council

Dogs are already banned from playgrounds and sports areas.

The council defended the advert, saying it asked if residents agree with existing powers to restrict dogs from certain areas, like play areas, which is one element of the consultation.

The council also came in for flak for referring to a 700 per cent increase in dog attacks in responses to residents’ emails, when the figure refers to an increase in dogs attacking other dogs, recorded by 14 police forces, between 2016 and 2021.

Members of the User Group have challenged the council to provide data for the area. It is understood that officials are collating figures and have promised to share them soon.

Ivy the dog, whose owner is against a ban on dogs off the lead in Abney Park Cemetery. Photo: Abney Dog of the Day

Campaigners also questioned whether the plan is consistent with giving Abney Park Chapel a licence to hold functions on up to three days a week.

The council said events would be self-contained in the chapel and would have “limited impact” on the cemetery.

Abney Park Trust, which is run by volunteers, backs the proposal for dogs to be on leads.

Trustees said: “It’s our view that the joy dogs bring to people and our community can be balanced with the needs of the ecosystem through a sensible and enforced on-leads rule.”

Abney Park is one of London’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ cemeteries, and opened in the 19th century.

Two other ‘Magnificent Seven’ cemeteries only allow guide dogs, and dogs must be on leads in Brompton Cemetery in west London.

Pooches are also banned from Hackney’s Woodberry Wetlands, which is run by the London Wildlife Trust.

The Abney Park trustees added: “Having dogs on the lead is the most effective means of reducing the negative impact on wildlife.”

They suggested that seasonal lead enforcements, or restricting certain areas, could be confusing and more difficult to manage.

They said they have spoken to many dog owners and considered the impact on wildlife.

Rikardo Hyatt, Hackney Council’s director for climate, homes and the economy, said: “Many residents are nervous about the large numbers of dogs in Hackney’s parks and green spaces.

“Some are requesting more dog-free areas, some request more dogs-on-leads orders, and many dog owners are calling for fenced-off areas to exercise their dogs in.”

Mr Hyatt added: “There are already a number of areas in Hackney where dogs must be on a lead. This includes play areas and some parks, such as Hoxton Square and Shepherdess Walk Park.

“We are proposing to update this list of areas in response to people’s concerns.”

The council’s plan also includes limiting the number of dogs people can walk in public to four, and making it an offence for dog walkers not to clear up faeces.

The consultation ends on Sunday 19 November.

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