[Discuss] Greens in central Cambridge Litter and Barbecues

[Allan Brigham]

Peter

Thanks for your comments. I agree re suitability on most parks. It is also a
problem in Grantchester Meadows, as is the leaving behind of picnic debris
and occasional all night camping.

Maybe SOS and council should get together to designate some sites for
barbeques, though I'm not sure where. I think there is a barbeque site near
the Newnham paddling pool ? Where else would be suitable ? Perhaps the open
spaces in the planned urban extensions could be designed to include this
facility.

Allan

-----Original Message-----
From: discuss-bounces at soscambridge.org.uk
[mailto:discuss-bounces at soscambridge.org.uk] On Behalf Of peter constable
Sent: 19 April 2010 19:01
To: SOS Cambridge discussion list
Subject: Re: [Discuss] Greens in central Cambridge Litter and Barbecues

Alan

This is an old subject and for years we have been trying to encourage  
the Council to do something.
There has been great resistance to notices but now there seems to be a  
change of heart. It is difficult to consider taking action  when
you have done nothing to bring the local ordinances to peoples  
attention, There are ordinances against litter and fires.
I must say that in the past I have leaned towards a barbecue area. In  
the States this is normal in State Parks but I have never seen one
in a central city park. I have now come to the conclusion that a  
barbecue area on Parkers Piece, Midsummer Common, Christ's Pieces,
Jesus Green etc would be inappropriate. There is almost nowhere one  
could be placed without it being obtrusive and polluting.

I very much appreciate your comments about people without gardens or  
with very small gardens (I am one) but of course there are many  
thousands
of these dwellings in Cambridge and many thousands of students to whom  
this would apply. There are also many thousands of residents and  
visitors
who regularly visit our green spaces and who would prefer that smoke  
did not get in their eyes.

In the past it was not thought necessary to cook outdoors to enjoy a  
picnic. The habit has grown only in recent years and has been  
encouraged by
the supermarkets whose colorful bags are so liberally distributed   
around our greens. With the greatest respect I do not think it will be  
a great
sacrifice for  anyone if the greens become smoke free and litter free.

Yrs
Peter
Chair JGA


On 19 Apr 2010, at 15:41, Allan Brigham wrote:

> Thanks John. But I suspect many of those having barbeques on parks  
> live in
> bedsits or flats, with at the most balconies if they are lucky.
>
> Some of the money from building new flats and especially small  
> bedsit type
> developments goes into improving local parks for these residents just
> because these new developments have no open space. There have been  
> barbeques
> on Romsey Rec over the last couple of years, and it makes a horrible  
> mess.
> But I'm fairly sure that many of these are people who have no where  
> else to
> go outside. Which doesn't mean that burning the turf, leaving litter  
> or late
> night noise is acceptable. But if policy is to encourage everyone to  
> live in
> towns then there does need to be space for activities like barbeques.
>
> Perhaps the issue is that of conflicting usages of open spaces, and  
> how to
> manage/reconcile these ?
>
> And maybe developers should be encouraged to create barbeque  
> provision in
> their developments.
>
> Allan
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: discuss-bounces at soscambridge.org.uk
> [mailto:discuss-bounces at soscambridge.org.uk] On Behalf Of John Lawton
> Sent: 19 April 2010 14:07
> To: SOS Cambridge discussion list
> Subject: Re: [Discuss] Greens in central Cambridge Litter and  
> Barbecues
>
> At 13:36 19/04/2010, you wrote:
>> Does SOS have a policy on barbeques ? Are the objections to
>> barbeques objections to burnt turf, or also to large gatherings,
>> especially at night in summer ?
>
> I would say that we would oppose on the grounds that there is damage,
> but also usually a huge amount of litter.  Those who enjoy the fires
> seem to feel free to make a huge mess and show no responsibility to
> clear up afterwards.
>
>> In America many open spaces come with barbeque provision. Do we need
>> the same here ?
>
> Perhaps in the right setting, but I think not on grazing land, and
> not if they harm the nature of the green space.
>
>> Maybe we need to think about parks differently as more and more
>> people are encouraged to live in high density developments with
>> little private open space, so no room for barbeques at home. If the
>> numbers  using parks increase then noise at all times of day from
>> parks becomes a bigger issue, so maybe existing parks need
>> redesigning to keep crowds away from houses ?  Maybe we need more
>> open spaces ?
>
> Agreed about more green space provision,  but surely everyone has
> room for a BBQ, if not a bonfire?
>
> John
>
>
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