WEEKS of extremely hot weather in Bristol have led to warnings of a high risk of wildfires.
Bristol City Council is advising that people should not have barbecues in parks nor open spaces. However locals have complained about people having barbecues anyway.
Sharon Smithen, a local resident, told a full council and member forum meeting last month: “I was quite appalled to see a whole load of barbecues, some on the ground. It was very dry and there was long grass immediately adjacent to it. And I thought this whole thing is going to go up in flames.”
There is a byelaw banning barbecues on the Downs, although this is sometimes flouted.
Conservative Cllr Mark Weston added: “Our estates are like tinder boxes at the moment and an awful lot of people are having barbecues, and in Blaise, campfires in the woods.”
Lib Dem Cllr Stephen Williams, chair of the public health and communities policy committee, said: “Nobody in their right mind should be lighting barbecues or fires in any of our public spaces, whether it’s grassland or woods, at the moment.”
The fire service is asking the public to take extra care when spending time outdoors, as the dry weather persists.
By Alex Seabrook,
Local Democracy Reporter