BBQ plea sees people urged to use takeaways

People have been asked to buy food and drink from takeaway restaurants rather than use disposable barbecues in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council urged people not to use disposable appliances in any green space this summer because of environmental and safety hazards, and also warned of the dangers of lighting fires.

Previous years have seen visitors and residents using throwaway barbecues on the Recreation Ground, in Welcombe Hills, Clopton Park and other green spaces.

A council spokesman said the barbecues took several hours to fully cool, which meant they were often left where they were, or left in or near a litter bin, presenting a "significant danger".

"The district council urges anyone thinking of using a disposable barbeque on green spaces within the district to instead purchase food and drinks from many of the local takeaway restaurants," he said.

One incident in 2023 saw the contents of a waste lorry set on fire after a barbecue was put in a recycling bin, he said.

Disposable barbecues had caused forest fires elsewhere across the country, he added.

The appliances cannot be recycled, he said, adding that burning charcoal also released pollutants.

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