‘I go to POC with my elderly aunt Margot who uses a walker and both my dog Mo and Margot get to have a lovely and safe walk there.’

'I've lived overlooking the cemetery for over 40 years. I look at the cemetery every day from my house on Tennyson Road and feel a sense of ownership. I approve of the dog walkers presence, most of them are responsible and they have been self-organising since the issue came up, developing a code of conduct, policing other dog walkers and picking up rubbish as well as other dogs' faeces...l've been burgled from the cemetery side, I've seen crack smoking and drug dealing. The dog walkers are the eyes and ears of the place, if you drive them out there will be very few people in there at all. Other visitors are a minority. I don't have a dog. But these folks and their dogs enhance the space and shouldn't be attacked because of a few reprobates when they're trying their best to organise a peaceful truce with mourners and their own council.’

'I think it's necessary to say that dogs being off lead is not only vital to dogs and their owners, its actually very important to those of us who don't own a dog, but love them! I have met the loveliest of dogs and people in this cemetery, most of whom I wouldn't have had the opportunity to chat with had their pooch not stopped by to get a smooch or try to steal a biscuit. I'm a local nanny and have trained my charges how to be calm and ask to pet, it has been invaluable. I'll keep on filling in the surveys and signing the petitions!'

'I have family living in the area around Paddington Old Cemetery and have come here walking with them and their dogs for twenty years or so. I moved into a house backing onto the cemetery in 2010 and wake up to the view of the tree tops each morning. We hear owls at night, and woodpeckers during the day. Lyra is an energetic dog and needs a lot of exercise off lead - sight hounds like her love to run. Having the cemetery so close was certainly a motivating factor in getting a dog. What I didn't anticipate is the community I stepped into as a dog owner. I have met so many local friends through Lyra - the cemetery is an important social hub as well as a space in which humans and dogs exercise and enjoy some quiet. I'm a writer and I work from home so the structure that Lyra brings to my day and the fresh air and tranquility of the cemetery are incredibly important to my well-being!’

‘Sam has to have regular off the lead exercise - that's part of the promise we made to the Guide Dogs when we took him on. Paddington Old Cemetery (POC) is where he meets his friends. We in turn have made close friendships there. There's plenty for Sam to sniff and it's safe. The Guide Dogs are very clear that dogs need off-lead exercise and enrichment. Taking away off-lead walking would take away the only interesting and stimulating place to walk off lead in the area. It would also take away our community.’

‘This is Dudley, an 11 year old retired therapy dog. Dudley used to work in local care homes specialising in dementia care. He is enjoying his retirement visiting his favourite place POC twice a day.

Dudley had severe arthritis and it is vital that he walks off lead at his own pace.’

‘As a heavily pregnant young woman, POC is the only place in the area that I feel safe walking Nelly, and which offers her the space to be exercised appropriately. It has also provided my husband and me with a local community where we have made many friends including other young mothers! It's a very cherished green space!’

'I've loved and lived by Paddington Cemetery for over 30 years and more recently have been visiting the graves of two friends. I've always enjoyed seeing dogs playing there, and for the last 4 years have had a dog of my own.’

‘After many visits to POC, Anthony and Ada have a strong friendship. I'm proud that Ada is such a great therapy dog for Anthony, and the cemetery provides such a wonderful place of emotional support for him.'

'We live in Kilburn and have been walking in Paddington Old Cemetery (POC) for nearly 20 years, whether with my children, my sister and her dogs or my mother and hers. Three generations of family dog walkers and we all love POC. It holds a special place in all our hearts and has given us such a sense of community - something that's hard to find in London. If we could no longer walk our dogs off the lead we'd go elsewhere, with heavy hearts and a great sense of loss!’