A Keswick supermarket has hastily withdrawn sales of portable barbecues, after a heatwave weekend in which local emergency crews tackled a spate of fires.
In July last year bosses at Booths announced they would no longer be selling cheap disposable barbecues at their Lake District stores following a campaign by councillors and environmental group Sustainable Keswick.
last week, however, a member of the public highlighted on social media the fact that the branch on Tithebarn Street had dozens of £12 re-usable barbecue sets for sale on its shelves.
This is despite a ban on barbecues and open fires within the boundaries of the Lake District National Park Authority, and repeated appeals by the Cumbria fire service for the public not to use them.
Within hours, Booths had issued an apology and removed the barbecues. In a statement, the company said: “In the light of the recent prolonged dry conditions, Booths have removed the sale of all reusable and disposable barbecues from all stores.
“The safety of our communities and landscapes are our highest priority and we will closely monitor the situation and listen to our customers. Booths didn’t procure any disposable barbecues in 2022 and have removed reusable (£12 line) from sale and will not be re-introducing this line in any stores.”
However Keswick councillor Sally Lansbury, who was one of those calling for a ban on portable barbecues last year, said she was disappointed to learn that Booths had been selling the reusable type.
“They pose the same fire risk and danger to flora and fauna as the single use items, with a very slightly lower carbon footprint if they do get reused,” she said.
“Booths do realise that this is not a suitable alternative and have been very responsive and immediately withdrawn them from sale. Still, I’d like to remind all local retailers that the use of barbecues is prohibited by all landowners within the Lake District National Park and Keswick parks.
“It’s a bit like Whack-a-Mole – just as we have a success and one retailer sees the light and stops the sale of disposable barbecues another retailer pops up and thinks it’s a good idea to start selling them.”
Last week fire crews from Keswick were called to reports of smoke coming from a bin, and upon arrival crews found a disposable barbecue which was alight. And crews also tackled a large blaze in woodland near Bassenthwaite the week before.
This comes after about 350 fires were put out across Cumbria during July alone.
Craig Drinkald, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service’s area manager for protection and prevention, said: “In Cumbria we have fells and mountains, the fire naturally goes up, and with the added wind we have increased risk.”
Nick Hall, head of health and safety at the Woodland Trust, said it was imperative its sites are fire free.
“Fires have huge implications – both in terms of the financial burden and the effect on our woods and wildlife, which can be catastrophic,” he said.
“One spark really can spell disaster: you’re gambling with the lives of people and animals by taking one on your summer outings.”
