| We believe the susceptibility of our heathlands to wildfires is the crux of the proposed public spaces protection order that seeks to ban barbecues on the Crown Lands. The order ought to be expanded to restrict sky lanterns and fireworks, which would be just as likely to ignite a devastating blaze.
Our Trustee / Council member, Brian Tarnoff made this recommendation in a Presentment to the Verderers Court 16th November 2022. |
NFDC Public Spaces Protection Orders and Heathland Fires
We broadly support both of the two PSPOs focussed on the Crown Lands, aimed at preventing wildfires, and banning the inappropriate feeding and petting of Forest Livestock.
The Dorset Open Land PSPO [*] which came into force on 1st July 2022 included prohibition on:
| a. placing, throwing or dropping items likely to cause a fire, b. lighting fires, barbeques (including disposable barbeques), Chinese lanterns or fireworks, c. using items which either (i) cause a naked flame or (ii) pose a risk of fire |
The NFDC draft uses much the same language, but excludes restrictions on fireworks and sky lanterns. All other extant PSPOs targeting wildfires on moorlands, coastal and heathland habitat have the same restrictions as Dorset. [†]
Over 190 councils in England have committed to banning sky lanterns, many have included this ban in their PSPOs. Both Hampshire County Council and New Forest District Council have banned sky lanterns from events they permit on their own land. (The National Park says they have banned sky lanterns on their web page on wildfires, but it is unclear if they have any practical way at their disposal to enforce this ban.)
NFDC may balk at inclusion by insisting that they need more direct evidence of the threat from sky lanterns and fireworks to progress the PSPO. Clearly more than ten other authorities were able to meet the legal requirement for those prohibitions in their PSPOs. It may be difficult to find specific remains of either fire source in the aftermath of a 200 hectare heathland fire, and if anything we’d rather not have further evidence beyond what a sensible risk analysis from the Fire Service might supply. There is ample evidence that our heathlands will be susceptible to wildfires, we should guard against every probable source.
Sky lanterns and Fireworks ought to be added to the PSPO:
- Consistent with best practice as shown in other PSPOs.
- Consistent with rules of the authority on our Western border, where crossborder incidents have and may occur.
- Balance of probability that the risk of wildfires to the public outweighs the negligible loss of enjoyment in the public space of these activities.
- The increasing risk of summer wildfires as the effects of climate change continue.
We hope that the Verderers will consider this in their response to the consultation.
| New Forest District Council has sent two draft Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO) , which we broadly support, for public consultation. The first to ban the lighting of fires and use of BBQs (principally on the Crown Lands), and the second to ban the feeding and petting of ponies, horses, mules, and donkeys in the open areas of the New Forest. The consultation runs for nearly 8 weeks from Monday 6th December 2022 to Friday 27th January 2023.
In This Series on PSPOs:– Previously: Dog Public Space Protection Order: A Statement to NFDC Council Cabinet Coming: PSPOs for the Dog Control in the Forest: Our Recommendations For a Draft Dog Control PSPO, how they stack up against existing guidance, and What the Kennel Club Says About PSPOs |
ENDNOTES
[*] The Dorset Open Land Anti-social Behaviour Related Public Spaces Protection Order 2022 https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/w/public-space-protection-orders-for-anti-social-behaviour
Dorset’s BBQ and campfire/wildfire policy and sky lantern and balloon release Equality Impact Assessment
[†] Other moorland, heathland and coastal habitat wildfire PSPO’s, all with the same restrictions as Dorset’s:
| Dorset County | Barnsley | |||
| Oldham | Tameside | |||
| Kirklees | City of Bradford | |||
| High Peak Borough Council | Bolton Council | |||
| Staffordshire Moorlands District Council | Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council | |||
| Calderdale West Yorkshire | Newark and Sherwood District Council | |||
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