What does the barbecue ban mean?
It requires a person to not light or cook on any barbecue in the area where the order applies. It also requires a person to not bring any barbecue into an area where the order applies with the intention of lighting it or cooking on it there, knowing that doing so is prohibited. “Barbecue” includes any outdoor temporary cooking facility or equipment. Failure to comply with the orders will result in a Fixed Penalty Notice of £50 or you could be prosecuted in the magistrates’ court for a criminal offence and be fined up to £1,000. A full list of which can be found on the website www.fylde.gov.uk/bbqs
How will the ban be enforced?
Environmental Enforcement Officers patrol Fylde Council’s public open spaces 7 days a week, including evening and weekends to improve safety. They have delegated powers to issue Fix Penalties for beaches to the order as well as tackle more general issues of undesirable and anti-social behaviour (ASB) on parks, open spaces, nature areas and beaches. The officers will be operating in a multi-agency scenario, working alongside other Fylde Council teams, police and the fire services in providing a sense of personal safety for visitors, encouraging positive behaviour and effectively dealing with incidents.
Why has the council done this?
At a meeting of the Tourism and Leisure Committee on 14th March 2019 councillors agreed to introduce a PSPO to prohibit BBQ’s and outdoor cooking following public consultation that was undertaken. This was in response to receiving a number of complaints over the last year or so about damage caused to park furniture and grassed areas as a result of barbeques and outdoor cooking, with the Fire Brigade having to attend a large fire on Lytham Green in summer 2018 which was caused by a disposable BBQ. Damage has also been caused in and around Fairhaven Lake, and the Fylde Sand Dunes Local Nature Reserve/ Site of Special Scientific Interest. The complaints also included nuisance, noise, disturbance and safety risks associated with such activities, as well as an increase in the amount of litter that is left behind. The Council hopes that by prohibiting BBQ’s this will help to further protect the Borough’s designated nature reserves, ecological sites and the associated wildlife.
How long will the barbecue ban remain?
The orders will be in place from 1 July 2022 for up to 3 years. During this time the effectiveness of the ban will be reviewed.
What do I do if I see someone using a barbecue in an area where the order applies?
You can report incidents to us using the following link.
Is there anywhere that I can use a barbecue?
The orders only apply to specific parks, open spaces, dunes and beaches managed by Fylde Council. A full list of which can be found on the website www.fylde.gov.uk/bbqs
