[Discuss] Greens in central Cambridge Litter and Barbecues

Wed Apr 21 12:38:38 BST 2010

All very anti-fun :(

But I have to agree on putting it in the same category, sort of:  if my dog
(I dont' actually have one, but if I did) fouled the pavement, and then I
picked it upa nd removed it, that would be ok.  The same should apply to
bbqs.

Ian

On 21 April 2010 12:06, jean perraton <jean at perraton.myzen.co.uk> wrote:

> Peter writes 'I do not think it will be
> a great  sacrifice for  anyone if the greens become smoke free and litter
> free.'
>
> Yes.  We should be seeking to encourage those activities which cause little
> nuisance for other park users and little harm to the environment - local and
> global. You could put having  BBQs - with their smell and smoke as well as
> concerns about the source of their fuel and throw-away packaging - in the
> same category as dropping litter or allowing your dog to foul the footpaths.
>
> That would be my starting point - but obviously how best to control is
> another matter.
>
> Jean
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "peter constable" <
> p.constable at ntlworld.com>
> To: "SOS Cambridge discussion list" <discuss at soscambridge.org.uk>
> Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 7:00 PM
>
> 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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>>
>>
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