In Council Bans Assistance/Guide Dogs From Cemetery I revealed how Market Weighton Town Council (MWTC) not only unlawfully closed the town’s cemetery it has also unlawfully banned assistance/guide dogs from it.

I am now delighted to confirm that the previous notice has now been removed and replaced with a new one stating  “No dogs – except guide dogs and assistance dogs”.

By Order

As I am unaware of any legislation that permits a Town Council to make an Order to ban access to a cemetery I have submitted a request under the Freedom of Information  Act to MWTC for a copy of the Order. Sadly this remains outstanding after nearly two months.

Polite Advice

I am in no doubt no one would want to see dog mess in a cemetery. I am also of the opinion that no one would want to prevent “Mary” from taking her dog “Yorkie” to visit her late husband “George” so long as the dog was on a lead.

The current sign, although a slight improvement, has no legal basis (of course the invisible order may prove me wrong!) so I would politely recommend that MWTC request East Riding of Yorkshire Council to introduce a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) that only permits dogs on leads entering the cemetery.

With a lawfully introduced and signed PSPO MWTC achieves their desired outcome, out of control dogs in the cemetery are addressed and Mary can take Yorkie to visit George.

Such a shame MWTC never had the humility in the first instance to request my assistance to move the situation forward in a lawful manner.