Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
FIRE risk in Finsbury Park ~ LBH should ban BBQs now
BAN disposable BBQs now says London Fire Chief
The fire risk in FP is likely to be very high. A colleague pointed out that—due to the long spell of dry weather—the sheer shedding of leaves in FP makes it look as though autumn is already in full swing.
Barratt Holmes has produced a list of London councils that have have implemented bans:
BBQ Rules in London Parks: What You Need to Know 2026
Barrat record that, "Haringey Council has urged people not to barbecue in their parks"
As a responsible controller, Haringey Council should act in a far more robust fashion than merely nudging and inviting. I would urge our council to issue a ban.
Not only a ban on disposable summertime barbecues, but a ban on all barbecues: just as good guardian Hackney has.
While the government has temporarily banned the sale of disposable BBQs, Haringey Council has yet to ban their use in parks.
For FP's other neighbouring Borough: "Islington Council banned barbecues during lockdown. They are currently reviewing this policy but currently, barbecues are not permitted."
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Our Council has implemented a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) that addresses various anti-social behaviours in public spaces. However, the specific details regarding disposable BBQs are not explicitly mentioned in the council's PSPO documentation.
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Tags for Forum Posts: BBQ, ban, council, disposable, finsbury, haringey, park
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gina Harkell
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Yes. Absurd not to ban barbecues in Finsbury Park. IF NOT NOW, WHEN??
Gina Harkell, joint chair Friends of Finsbury Park.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter
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GINA, there has been urging at a level, even higher than Haringey:
Burnham urges shops not to sell disposable BBQs over wildfire risks
Putting this into a wider context, there's the need for the display and enforcement of the park by-laws. Which may have mentioned BBQs. The by-laws exist, but some may conflict with intense commercial exploitation of our park. A past park manager once mentioned to me that they needed updating, including a reference to Gypsies.
Our park has received little attention from the council's High Officers, with the huge exception of attention as licensed events premises during their Summer Events Season.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson
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But they are banned (see page four)
https://www.minutes.haringey.gov.uk/documents/s134929/11_%20Appendi...
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I’ve just noticed that The Friends of Finsbury Park were consulted on this in 2022.
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The Haringey Parks and Greenspaces Strategy 2023–2038 was adopted in July 2023. The appendix below is an updated and adopted version of the one you posted above. The same ban is discussed on page 4. https://www.minutes.haringey.gov.uk/documents/s140453/Appendix%203%...
With 'Friends' like these...
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MANY thanks for going to the trouble of unearthing the many fine words in the adopted "Policy pack” of July 2023.
There is indeed a discussion about BBQs. On page 74, the “Policy position” includes:
The Council will seek the compliance with park policies through the engagement, education and encouragement of park users.
—I think its fair and reasonable to describe this as urging rather than a full-blooded ‘ban'.
Authorised enforcement officers will have a presence in parks and greenspaces across the borough to engage, educate, encourage and if necessary, and where lawful, to enforce compliance with park (and Council) policies.
—is there evidence for this in actual practice?
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- In theory, a “ban” on BBQs has existed for many years if not decades and was never repealed.
- The “ban” is likely listed in the by-laws that I mentioned above, but not posted or displayed at the entrances for many years.
- In practice—in order to be mean anything—a ban needs to be enforceable, advertised, posted and not least, enforced. None of these necessary factors obtain.
- Few park visitors will know of, let alone have read published years ago in a document that, is meaningless.
- Like other policy position papers, the three-year old paper reminds me of the most democratic Constitution the world has ever known to be published. i.e. the 1936 Constitution of the USSR, near the height of Stalin’s purges*
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- The by-law ‘ban’ is not posted now, nor for many years
- The 'ban’ is flouted every summer
- There are no park-staff available to enforce the ‘ban’
- The ‘ban’ is not enforced
- A ban in any meaningful sense does not exist
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It's a case of in theory, versus in actual practice. I probably speak for the FoFP when I say that I am not content with the current effectiveness of the claimed ‘ban’.
*also see: not worth the paper it is written on
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