[Discuss] Barbecues - a burning issue

Wed Jul 14 12:20:45 BST 2010

Dear John

Well I think it is highly suspicious that the Council sent Sarah Tovall to a
meeting with me Martin Thompson and Peter Constable ( she explained she was
the ground level in seniority) with the message that the signs after all
that discussion would not include the injunction against barbecues.

I knew this would cause confusion in people using the Green since the word
has got out that barbecues are allowed and there are burn marks everywhere
to show that they are tolerated by the authorities.

Now sure enough these stupid signs are coming, why do we need a
proscriptions against camping first, no one camps on Jesus Green, litter is
already banned and 'fires' are unknown. The real problem is barbecues and
the Council has now complicated and confused the issue.

I think they are in serious dereliction of their duty to uphold the byelaws
talking about the ' social function' of barbecues . They cannot decide to
allow them on the grounds that they're not fires, without being in
contravention of the byelaws themselves.

Is there a lawyer in the house?

I am off on holiday to the end of the month. Very best of luck with this
important issue.

Best wishes

Anne

On 13/7/10 11:56, "John Lawton" <chair at soscambridge.org.uk> wrote:

> Thanks Anne. There had been Police confusion over this, but I thought
> that it was now sorted out.
> On the 17th June, E-Cops sent out this message:
> 
> "With the improvement in the weather then naturally the beautiful
> green spaces in Cambridge will be enjoyed more. You may have noticed
> that the City Council have started putting up signage that say "no
> littering, no fires, no camping". This includes disposable BBQs which
> sit on the ground. This is because the heat from the BBQ's burns the
> grass leaving it damaged. If you are going to have a BBQ please
> ensure that it is placed on a stand.
> The summer bins have been placed on the green spaces to discourage
> littering. The offence of littering carries a â≠€75 fine that can be
> issued by PCSO's and the city enforcement officers.
> We hope everyone can enjoy the green spaces."
> 
> Then on the 28th they sent another:
> 
> "Firstly I would like to confirm the rules regarding BBQs on green
> spaces within the city centre. I understand there has been some
> confusion surrounding this matter, but BBQs are not permitted on any
> of the green spaces within the city, except for Lammas Land, where
> there is a designated BBQ area.
> This is regardless of whether the BBQ is raised from the ground. This
> will be enforced by the City Council Enforcement Officers, who will
> report people with BBQs for summons to court."
> 
> So why is this coming up again?
> 
> John
> 
> At 11:14 13/07/2010, you wrote:
>> It is appalling to inflict barbecues on the users of Jesus Green.
>> Barbecues are a tiny but destructive minority . All other users,
>> sportspeople, children, picnickers in this small space should really
>> not have to breathe in barbecue smoke. It is not a wild area but a
>> mown cultivated space and very heavily populated. Barbecue smoke is
>> harmful intrusive and I surely am not the only person finding it
>> disgusting to smell cooking of innumerable cheap battery chicken and
>> burgers. Clouds of smoke drifting over other people using the green
>> is just not on. Why do the authorities insist on perceiving Jesus
>> Greenas some amazing wilderness? It is a very cultivated and urban
>> and sports area ˆ there should be much more encouragement I think of
>> sports actitivites for young people, a far better way of using the
>> area than contaminating other people's air and simply sitting about eating.
>> 
>> The writer is quite right. The lack of guidance with the new signs (
>> where the temporary ones were completely clear no barbecues )
>> creates a grey area where there has to be a discussion after every
>> intervention, with people possibly believing that 'fires' doesn't
>> mean barbecues, or saying they think that.
>> 
>> Fires are prohibited by the byelaws. The byelaws are passed by
>> Parliament. If the Council wants to change that to allow barbecues
>> they have to go back to parliament and change it . Meanwhile they
>> are in defiance of their own rules in not enforcing it. It is
>> actually not ' up for discussion" it's a reality . That is if you
>> consider a barbecue a fire, which the Council members clearly
>> don't.  I think Cambridge would look ridiculous arguing this to
>> change their own byelaw just to accommodate a tiny group of people
>> who up to now have done appalling damage.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 13/7/10 09:40, "John Lawton" <chair at soscambridge.org.uk> wrote:
>> 
>>> Oh dear, here we go again, this is not helpful:
>>> 
>>> 
>> <http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Special-barbecue-areas-would-stop-illeg
>> al>http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Special-barbecue-areas-would-stop-ill
>> egal
>>> -fires.htm
>>> 
>>> I had thought that the management groups of Midsummer Common / Jesus
>>> Green had decided that their common land in central Cambridge isn't
>>> suitable for bbq's, and other areas such as Lammas land should be used.
>>> 
>>> How long is this going to go on being re-hashed?  Can't we just say:
>>> no barbecues on Jesus Green?
>>> 
>>> John
>>> 
>>> ---------------------------------------------------------
>>> Save Our green Spaces
>>> <http://www.soscambridge.org.uk>http://www.soscambridge.org.uk
>>> ---------------------------------------------------------
>>> 
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