Brent Council has brought in new rules that state dogs must be kept on leads at all times in Paddington Old Cemetery or face fines of up to £1,000.
The council said it had 74 complaints of dogs behaving badly in the Willesden Lane graveyard, where Paddington Bear creator Michael Bond is buried.
But a screenshot from a Brent Council consultation appears to show 479 respondents or 61% were happy for dogs to roam off leads, while 191 wanted them on leads and 121 felt they should be barred from the burial ground.
Dasha Sobornova, legal representative of owners group Dogs of Paddington Old Cemetery, which has more than 100 members, said: “Brent shamelessly steamrolled the residents yet again.
“It is really quite astonishing how little regard they have for the democratic process and gives further weight to the argument that the consultation was a pure formality and the decision was predetermined.”
She added: “How this is allowed to happen in a democratic country is beyond me.”
Another group, Friends of Paddington Old Cemetery, remained neutral during the consultation.
Its chair Andrew Lowe said: “We feel that Brent Council has ridden roughshod over the consultation process and is not skilled at listening to the local community.
“Equally, the dog walking community needs to understand the problems that large numbers of dogs in a cemetery can bring.
“We really encourage better local engagement, so welcome the idea of bringing users together to find solutions for this much-loved place.”
Cllr Harbi Farah, cabinet member for safer communities, jobs and skills gave the same response he issued when announcing the ban.
He said: “While many responsible dog owners value the cemetery as a place for walking their dogs, the number of serious concerns raised made it clear that action was needed.
“We understand that dogs are an important part of people’s lives, which is why we will continue to allow dog walking here, rather than banning them altogether.”
