A council has prohibited barbecues right before summer In a well-visited park where residents reported that partygoers were leaving trash, getting into fights – and even relieving themselves among the shrubbery.
Earlier this week, Camden Council announced a decision to prohibit the use of grills in Waterlow Park located in Highgate, north London. London Following reports of 'gatherings' during severe weather that disrupted others.
The announcement came after a petition initiated by local residents, who advocated for a ban due to worries regarding pollution as well as the effect on the grass and wildlife.
A local resident reported that large groups of people were playing loud music, using barbecue areas in unauthorized spots, and even defecating in the shrubs.
Most of the local residents expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the ban, though some felt it was regrettable since many people in London lack access to a garden.
Sarah Humphries, aged 70, supported the ban and stated that she is 'totally opposed' to barbecues.
She stated: "I really need to steer clear of the park during weekends due to this issue. My heart goes out to those who have no other place to be - but it simply doesn't belong here. They arrive in huge crowds, and let me tell you, the amount of smoke is overwhelming."
Elsie Smith, aged 67, expressed relief as well: "In the past, we could never visit here during weekends due to the widespread smoke."
'It harms both your well-being and the natural surroundings. Additionally, those setting up barbecues were not from around here—thus preventing locals from enjoying the park.'
'Frankly, I'm relieved about this. People should rather have picnics instead. That way, everybody could relish the park without getting bothered by smoke.'
Renata, who is 54 years old, expressed concerns regarding wildfires: 'All it needs is one mistake for everything to ignite. The substantial amount of smoke is detrimental to both individuals and the environment, and the large gatherings can be quite overwhelming.'
Latest London news
- Eleven individuals were hospitalized following an 'electric bike fire' that tore through a high-rise building.
- As a food writer, I had never come across this U.S. chain in London before.
- Within the proposals to transform London Liverpool Street station
For the most recent updates from the capital, check out Diwida.|'s London news hub .
Max, aged 26, stated: "I believe that many individuals residing in London, particularly younger ones, do not possess any outdoor areas. Therefore, this is the sole method for them to enjoy a barbecue."
'Barbecues are truly a quintessential part of the British summer experience—so it's disappointing to be missing out on them.'
Michelle, who is 55 years old, mentioned that families and communities would gather for barbecues, yet she acknowledges the valid concerns about safety.
Camden Council stated that they aim for all individuals to have access to enjoying the park and will continuously assess this policy: "Our parks in Camden serve as essential areas for our community members."
'Out of every five residents, two lack access to a garden at their homes, and our parks provide lovely areas for relaxation, socializing, and exercising.'
We aim for everybody to have a good time, which is why we'll continue assessing our policy of permitting barbecues in our parks during the summer season.
Contact our news team by sending an email to webnews@Diwida |.co.uk .
To find similar tales, check our news page .
Get the latest on all the buzzworthy stories by subscribing to Diwida |'s News Updates newsletter.