Date published: 2026-01-05 | Category: Bereavement Services, Giving people a bigger say, Improving people's lives
Measures to ensure dogs are kept on leads and dog mess is cleaned up in the grounds of Bath & North East Somerset Council-owned cemeteries are being consulted on.
The move is a last resort in response to repeated reports of dogs off leads which in some cases have led to visitors and staff facing abusive behaviour and dog mess left on graves.
And it follows attempts to address the problems without having to introduce formal powers by carrying out social media campaigns, improving signage, and staff talking to dog owners.
The council is now consulting on a Public Space Protection Order, which would require owners to keep their dogs on a lead of two metres or less and immediately remove dog mess, ensuring that cemeteries remain safe and clean for visitors.
Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Communications and Community, said: “It’s disappointing that despite repeated efforts to raise public awareness, we continue to experience a significant problem with some owners allowing their dogs to run free in cemetery grounds. It’s not the dogs but their owners who are causing this problem for other people.
“It is not acceptable that visitors and staff have experienced aggressive behaviour from dogs and we are concerned about the serious safety risks for the animals too, as there have been instances where dogs have been off-lead near staff who are using heavy machinery.
“We welcome responses to our consultation from residents, cemetery visitors and anyone who is concerned about the environment in our cemeteries.”
If the PSPO is introduced, anyone breaking its regulations would receive a Fixed Penalty Notice of £100 which could increase to £1,000 if the case goes to court.
The PSPO would apply in the following locations:
Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath
Harptree Cemetery, East Harptree
St. Michael’s Cemetery, Bath
Smallcombe Cemetery, Bath
St. James Cemetery, Bath
Twerton Cemetery, Bellotts Rd, Bath
People can respond to the consultation on the council website
ENDS