Illegal barbequers ignore Dovestone ban

Illegal barbecuers are tainting one of Oldham’s most precious beauty spots. 

There is a complete ban on barbecues at Dovestone Reservoir, Greenfield, which is a magnet for visitors sharing the  stunning countryside.

Last week, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, MP Debbie Abrahams and Sean Fielding, leader of Oldham Council, attended a mini summit after touring the site.

They met  police, fire officials, UU, RSPB, landowners,  farmers, professional security experts, countryside volunteers, residents and listened to problems blighting the beauty spot.

These, highlighted by Dr Andrew Taylor, chair of Greenfield and Grasscroft Residents Association, including excessive traffic, litter, anti-social behaviour and fires.

But just five days after the summit, Dovestone Marshals confiscated these BBQs pictured here.

After the meeting, Mr Burnham  promised  to lend his support in moves aimed at protecting the beauty spot. He  said: "I’ve heard so many people talk about what an outstanding location Dovestones is. 

“But there is no substitute for seeing it for yourself and hearing the passion local people have for preserving one of the most beautiful of Greater Manchester’s beauty spots. 

"I know there are plans to introduce a Public Space Protection Order at the site, which I fully support. 

“I am confident should the order come into force, GMP and GMFRS will work closely with the council to ensure the right enforcement is in place. 

"We also want to support the management group at the site to see if there is more we can do to help them. 

He added: “I hope we can create a way forward that everybody can get behind."

Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, said: “Our meeting with local stakeholders and members of the community was really positive. It was great to hear such commitment from Andy  to protecting Dovestones for generations to come.

“Sean Fielding, the Leader of Oldham Council has already applied for a Public Space Protection Order to ensure the Council is able to protect Dovestones. 

“After listening to the concerns raised at the meeting, Andy and I will do all we can to reduce the risk of the fires we saw last year and earlier this spring.” 

After  studying these  pictures of the illegal barbecues, she said: “It's very worrying visitors to the area behaved so irresponsibly this weekend using BBQs in spite of the warnings not to.”

 Of  planning issues that were raised, she said : “Andy welcomed suggestions from the local community about how we can balance the need for housing with protecting our environment. 

“And it was great to get support for my petition to the Government demanding they stop issuing unrealistic housing targets to local authorities and provide financial support to allow brownfield sites to be decontaminated and developed first.”

The summit brought up plans to build homes in the valley under the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework,  met with anger byresidents.

Mr Burnham the  GM Combined Authority is under pressure to meet the government’s housing quota but was adamant brownfield sites should be developed before greenbelt is lost.

“Everywhere needs new houses,” he said, “But I am looking for a shift back to urban core and brownfield sites in town centres.

“You live in a truly special place and we need to look after it.
“We are prepared to listen and work on a joint plan that we can say is fair for the long haul.”

The third iteration of the plans has recently been delayed, with further official public consultation now not expected until summer 2020.”

Cllr Arooj Shah, Cabinet Member for Social Justice and Communities, said: “It’s incredibly disappointing to see that people are still ignoring the safety warnings and continuing to take barbeques to Dovestones reservoir.

“I would urge people to be socially responsible, understand the context of what has happened with the fires over the past year and put safety first.

“As people will be aware, in partnership with Tameside Council and in co-ordination with a range of partners, we have held a consultation on bringing in Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) across large areas of moorland which will formally ban people from taking barbecues, fireworks and sky lanterns into the area.

“If the PSPOs are introduced anyone found to be breaching the terms of the orders would be committing an offence and would be liable to a fixed penalty notice of £90 or prosecution through the court.

“We would love to have those orders in place now but the law dictates that we must consult on this measure and it must be formally approved.

“A report will be presented to Cabinet in September which, we hope, will lead to this formal ban and increase the deterrent.”

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