Stark warning on wildfires at Dovestone

A community campaigner has warned authorities are heading into “long dark tunnel of wildfire risk.”

Dr Andrew Taylor, chairman of the Greenfield and Grasscroft Residents Association, made the stark prediction after 13 people had been fined for incidents involving Dovestone área.

He said: “We seem to be heading almost blindly into a long dark tunnel of wildfire risk.

“What IS news is the extent of the hot dry period we can expect locally.

“The unspoken news is what the length of this dry spell means - the conversion of our moorlands from a large patch of burnable vegetation into hundreds of square miles of dry peatland.

“Dry peatland perfect to become a smouldering inferno impossible to extinguish - sometimes for years. Damaging vegetation, wildlife, and all hopes of carbon capture.  A prolonged eco-disaster.

“And yet we head down this dark tunnel towards possible wildfires which could put Saddleworth 2018 blaze into the shade.

“A few dim torches shine forwards down the tunnel, marshals, budgets, CCTV, regulations, and exhortations, but nothing illuminates the far end where the light is red and flickering.

“That the current efforts are failing is proved by the number of barbecues and arson events we have seen recently.  The stage is set for one of these to trigger a disaster.

“Two of the brighter lights are the awareness of the sensible public leading to early reporting, and the preparedness of the Fire Service since 2018.

“Apart from this, it would appear we are in the usual administrative death grip of disinterest and ignorance at the top, budgetary compartmentalisation, and managerial lethargy in the middle and general self-satisfaction within organisations with what has been done rather than understanding the outcomes as proof more needs to be done.

“Sadly, these outcomes can be very expensive: £250,000 for the little arson events fortunately caught early,  up to £3-5 million for the bigger local moorland events.”

He added: “It appears OK to scrimp and save small figures on prevention and then shell out massively on the consequences.  And the main culprit here is budgetary isolation.

“Huge amounts can be spent on vanity projects whilst acute community need languishes unmet, simply because no-one with the power to move money from one pot into another has the interest or understanding so to do.  It is unlikely to change.

“In the meantime, two essential bricks in the wall of robust defence against arson and barbecues must be an absolute ban of barbecues outside the household and rigorous imposition of heavy and impactful penalties for any transgression.”

Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, has contacted by GMFRS concerning recent fires on moorland at Dovestone.

She said: “After extensive investigations with officers from GMP it's believed  at least four fires have been started deliberately, and those responsible will be charged accordingly.

“On top of this, people are ignoring the Public Space Protection Order which makes the ignition of any kind of flame, including but not limited to barbecues, a criminal offence. In this hot dry weather please protect our environment and the wildlife we share it with.”

Greater Manchester Police said currently there is a PSPO in place covering the Dovestone site and the surrounding moorland area and, within this court order, open and  lit BBQs are prohibited.

A spokesperson said: “GMP have been working in partnership with a number of stakeholders including GMFRS, United Utilities and RSPB looking at proactively tackling the issues posed to fire outbreaks at the location.

“We are committed to combatting those who breach the PSPO given the devastation the fire's cause and recently the local neighbourhood team have obtain details of those in breach of the PSPO which in turn have been forwarded to the local authority who are responsible for processing fixed penalty notices.

“In total we have obtained details of 13 people in the last three weeks at the Dovestone site.”

A spokesman for Oldham council confirmed people have been caught with BBQs at Dovestone Reservoir in breach of the PSPO.

“We will be issuing 13 fixed penalty notices to individuals for £100 fines over the coming days. If they are not paid the people will be prosecuted and fined up to £1,000 in court.

“Visitors to Dovestone need to respect the area and its residents and report fires to the emergency services.”

A spokesperson for RSPB said security marshals are only there to supervise the car park.  “The fire wardens, meanwhile, are there to raise the alarm about any fires that may occur. While they do speak to people on-site and promote responsible behaviour, they have no responsibility for enforcement.”

A United Utilities spokesman in line with the action plan they are working with authorities to try and ensure the PSPO is adhered to.

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.