A councillor has called for “urgent action” over a ban on beach barbecues.
Independent councillor David Irving said failure to act could risk a “serious environmental disaster” in Sefton as he called for a national ban on disposable barbecues.
In a motion submitted for a full meeting of Sefton Counci l due to be held next week, Cllr Irving said: “Disposable barbecues have been cited as the main cause of many fires by Senior Fire Officers in England this year, in which over 500 areas of outstanding natural beauty have been severely damaged by fire.
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“Urgent action is needed now to see a national ban on the sale of disposable barbecues which can be bought for as little as £5 and cause untold damage, especially when the grass is as dry as it has been over the last few months.”
Cllr Irving said Sefton Council had shown “wisdom” in putting in banning barbecues in 2021, a ban which was extended this year as part of a Public Space Protection Order. Although he did question how effective this had been.
He said: “Large brightly painted banners have been displayed at the entrances to Formby’s Special Area of Conservation which is the jewel in the crown for Sefton’s Environment attraction.
“The signs which state No Barbecues or Fires have been ignored repeatedly by visitors and the area has suffered a serious grass fire. You only have to walk around the Dunes to see the remnants of the used barbecues left behind.”
Asking councillors to back a motion calling on the government to ban the sale of disposable barbecues in a bid to stem the problem, Cllr Irving issued a warning: “Should this situation be ignored I fear that we could suffer a serious
environmental disaster to our area.”
Councillors will meet at Bootle Town Hall on Thursday September 29 to discuss Cllr Irving’s motion amongst other items at a full council meeting that had been originally due to take place on September 15, but had been postponed due to the death of the Queen.
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