Three-year ban on fires and BBQs in parks approved

A three-year ban on fires, barbecues and fireworks in many of a city's parks and open spaces is being introduced.

Oxford City Council has approved the introduction of the new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), which it says is "needed to reduce the risk of wildfires".

It follows what was declared by the Met Office earlier this week as the UK's hottest summer on record, with the dry weather leading to wildfires across the country.

The new rules mean that from Friday, those who light open fires or use barbecues, lanterns or fireworks at one of 41 sites across the city could face fines.

A report by council officers said the sites in question, including Port Meadow and South Park, had been chosen "due to the footfall, risk of ignition and possible impact".

"In the absence of a PSPO, the risk of fires started by barbecues, open fires, lanterns and fireworks would increase," the report said.

There is currently no bye-law preventing people from lighting fires in parks and open spaces in Oxford.

This form of legislation would "take too long to obtain approval from central government", the report suggested - with officers instead favouring the implementation of PSPO.

Both police and council officers will have the power to enforce the new rules.

It follows a nationwide temporary ban on disposable barbeques introduced by the government in August over fears they pose a "significant risk to the public".

That ban came as Oxfordshire experienced one of its driest summers in living memory, with multiple wildfires breaking out across the county.

In July the Environment Agency formally declared a drought across the Thames Valley, whilst Thames Water also introduced a hosepipe ban across the county.