‘Difficult decision’: Council bans barbecues in Islington’s parks and open spaces

Dry grass on Highbury Fields last summer. Photograph: Julia Gregory

Barbecues in Islington parks have had their chips, with Town Hall bosses agreeing to ban them.

Councillors said the fire risks and environmental concerns meant they had to call time on the al fresco cooking.

Environment chief Cllr Rowena Champion said it was “an extremely difficult decision” as many residents do not have their own outdoor space.

She added: “What we know about air pollution means it is not something we can support any more.”

Islington was one of the few London councils which still allowed barbecues, although this was suspended during Covid to encourage social distancing.

People were not allowed to fire up barbecues last year because the extreme heatwave meant they posed a serious risk.

London Fire Brigade had to tackle dozens of grass fires throughout the hot weather and asked councils to outlaw barbecues.

Cllr Champion said disposable barbecues have chemicals in them that are particularly problematic and they add to litter in parks.

Five years ago, the council agreed to a legal challenge by Save Highbury Fields, which wanted barbecuing restricted to just one area of the popular open space.

In 2011, the newly elected Labour administration overturned a borough-wide ban.

Cllr Champion told the executive that the time is right to ban wood-burning and disposable barbecues.

People face fines if they flout the rule.

They will be able to cook food on electric machines which are being tested in Paradise Park instead.

The move, which was backed by Islington’s senior politicians this week, means Camden and Southwark are the only two London councils not to have outlawed barbecues entirely.