[Discuss] Greens in central Cambridge Litter and Barbecues

[Anne Garvey]

Dear Alan,

You are rather assuming that barbeques are a kind of human right. What about
the majority of people who don't barbeque on Greens? I hate the smell of
them and they spoil my enjoyment of being there which surely isn't right?


Yours 


ANNE


On 19/4/10 22:59, "Allan Brigham" <townnotgown at btinternet.com> wrote:

> 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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