Call for restriction on barbecue sales

Saddleworth Parish Council have called for the Co-op to remove disposable barbeques from sale

Councillor Arooj Shah, Leader of Oldham Counci, has supported calls by Saddleworth Parish Council for the Co-op to remove disposable barbeques from sale.

Councillor Shah has written to the Co-op following a blaze at Meltham Moor blaze at the beginning of August. 

Firefighters do not know the official cause of the fire, however, it is possible it was a BBQ as one was found at the scene.

Cllr Shah has asked the Co-op to reinstate its ban on sales in its Saddleworth stores.

Councillor Phil Gaul raised the alarm at a Saddleworth Parish Council meeting in July following reports disposable barbecues were once again on sale in local Co- op stores.

He pointed out selling disposable barbeques ‘is not conducive to keeping our land safe’.

He said: "I’m very sorry to have been proved right to have warned that disposable barbeques remain a menace to Saddleworth’s moors and open spaces.

"It’s no use reacting once the damage has been done - local businesses need to play their part in helping to protect our beautiful moors and the birds and animals they are home to."

Oldham Council has confirmed the Public Spaces Protection Order banning fires on Saddleworth Moor imposed following a series of destructive fires is still in place.

Councillor Shah added: "Oldham Council continues to work with the RSPB and United Utilities and other partners to ensure Dovestone and the wider moorland are kept safe.

"Moorland fires are entirely avoidable and making it harder for people to get hold of a disposable barbeque is an easy step to take."

The Co-op have been approached for a comment.

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