London Fields BBQ Ban?

By ABattisby | Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 16:50

London Fields has always been a popular place to BBQ in the Summer months in Hackney.

"Leave no trace?" London Fields 8am Sunday 18th April 2010

However, The London Fields User Group have been talking about enforcing a ban for months now, and this summer could be the end of evening BBQ's in the fields in the borough.

Currently the user group, who consist of local residents and other users of the park at London Fields, find that the use of barbecues spoil the quality of the grass in the park.

They said: "Heat from the cheap BBQs trays used in the park is destroying the grass in many patches in the areas most popular with picnickers. The grass is burnt through to the roots so will not grow back easily."

"London Fields is the only green space in Hackney where rangers don't enforce by-laws banning BBQs and prevention is crucial. People should be strongly encouraged to bag up rubbish and 'leave no trace'."

In the user group's meeting it was decided that a dedicated BBQ area was unworkable.

Their minutes of their monthly meetings stated that "the underlying cause of the damage is that low cost BBQ trays at local shops that have no stands."

"The group discussed an absolute ban and there was general consensus that this was possibly the best solution and a BBQ ban campaign should be trialled for 12 months, with notices at all entrances."

Is this really the best solution?

The User Group are trialling a poll on the website to see what people think, and the results at the moment are 70.4% against the BBQ ban and 29.6% for.

If you are AGAINST or FOR the ban, please write a comment below.

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Comments

Park wardens should:

a) walk around with BBQ stands for sale and leaflets about the damage that cheap BBQ sets and litter do to the lawn
b) have the power to fine people not using a stand!

By silver_girl00 at 19:19 on 02/05/10
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There is nothing better than being able to have a bbq in the summer especially for people that don't have any outdoor space themselves. London Fields is a lovely place and it makes me angry when people just leave all there trash on it because they can't be arsed to put it in a bin or take it with them when they leave. I think bbq's should still be allowed but only if there on stands and perhaps that there should be a couple of park attendants that have the right to fine people should they not adhere to this small ask. After all the park is a great green space in Hackney to be enjoyed by everyone..

By amsterdam1 at 10:36 on 02/05/10
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Thats a good idea, but with coins left lying around in machines in Hackney it wouldn't be long till they were broken into....

By HannahHackney at 17:28 on 30/04/10
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In my native Australia there are coin-operated BBQs in public parks and beaches - you just rock up, give the plate a clean and away you go. Perhaps this is something the User Group could look into because there really aren't too many better things in life than eating yummy BBQd food in the sunshine.

tinyurl.com/389gfuf

By stokiegirl at 10:28 on 30/04/10
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People smoke mate, live with it.

Arthur.

By arthur1 at 19:27 on 27/04/10
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