After years spent battling an anti-barbecue campaign in Highbury Fields, Islington this afternoon made the snap decision to ban them after all – sort of.
The council was put under pressure after the brigade called for a total ban on park barbecues during the heatwave that has seen parts of London hit 35C today.
Firefighters have tackled six times as many grass fires so far this year than in 2017, and Islington is now urging people to put away the burgers.
A council spokesperson admitted the town hall has no legal powers to prohibit barbecues across the entire park, but insisted: “Islington Council is asking people not to barbecue in parks until further notice, on advice from London Fire Brigade.
“This is a temporary move, and we will return to Islington’s usual barbecue policy when the grass fire risk reduces.”
Barbecues were banned in most areas of the park in July as part of an out-of-court agreement between the council and the Save Highbury Fields Campaign Group, which was in the process of suing them.
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