BBQ and Cambridge Greens

Letter to the Editor, Cambridge News - issued 5 July 2010

Things have been hotting up in the recent debate about barbequing within various Cambridge parks – mainly because there is little manpower to enforce the rules that prohibit open fires.

While the problem of occasional small patches of burnt grass and associated litter does need to be tackled, what is really required is a much longer-term approach. With climate change promising hotter summers and more people living in denser housing clusters across the city with no garden or balcony, it is unsurprising that local residents are using parks to meet friends and family. That is after all what our greens spaces are for.

Taking inspiration from other cities in the UK and on the continent, local parks across Cambridge should be reassessed and suitable, well designed BBQ areas and seating facilities should be created where people can happily socialise and enjoy the outdoors – one of our real assets.

At Wandlebury Country Park, we have a designated area that people can hire for BBQ’s to limit fire risk, which proves extremely popular. At Lammas Land there is a designated, albeit small, BBQ area. It works well but is unfortunately insufficient to meet demand. If funding is an issue, local people or community groups could be encouraged to contribute or sponsorship could be sought – perhaps from the retail outlets selling the offending BBQs?

Carolin Göhler

CEO of CambridgePPF

For Cambridge News published front page article of 13 July 2010 - click here.