Retailers all across the country are being urged to ban the sale of disposable barbecues ahead of a new heatwave in England.
It comes after forecasters predicted that temperatures could rise to over 30C in parts of southern England as high pressure brings hot, dry weather following months of low rainfall which has left the country facing potential drought. Areas such as the countryside, urban parks, and gardens have become extremely dry, running the risk of destructive wildfires.
A hosepipe ban has already been announced by two water companies with others expected to soon follow.
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Last week high street retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) said they were banning the sale of disposable barbecues across the UK this summer.
In a tweet they wrote: "We'd already stopped selling disposable barbecues near national parks and in London but given the unusually hot and dry conditions, we've taken the precautionary step of removing them from sale across the UK."
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has now asked shops and supermarkets to follow in the steps of Marks and Spencer. The organisation’s president, Mark Tufnell said: “The CLA is demanding that retailers immediately ban the sale of disposable barbecues across the UK this summer in a move to curb fires spreading in the countryside which cause great damage to rural communities and businesses and jeopardise the safety of all those in the surrounding areas.
"During this period of prolonged lack of rainfall, record temperatures during heatwaves and wildfires damaging the countryside, policies such as this which can mitigate potential further fire damage are sensible and necessary. We warmly welcome people to the countryside as they seek to enjoy the glorious weather.
“But we ask them to help us protect farmland and natural habitats by not lighting barbecues, fires and other potentially hazardous materials such as sky lanterns.”
Meanwhile, the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is urging people not to light barbecues or bonfires, or let off fireworks or sky laters after a large fire which caused substantial damage was found to have been started by a chiminea.
Area manager Neil Fenwick said: “While summer weather usually provides the perfect opportunity to host a barbecue or gather around a chiminea in the evening, we’re strongly discouraging people from having any kinds of fires at the moment.
“The ground across Essex is extremely dry allowing fires to spread easily and quickly. This is true for gardens as well as fields and heathland.
“Please help us to help you. Please don’t have barbecues or bonfires. Please don’t use fireworks or set off sky lanterns.”
It comes following an announcement by the Met Office that temperatures could soar dramatically across the country in the coming weeks.
Met Office spokesperson Grahame Madge said: “We’re expecting the heat to build toward the end of the week, and expecting temperatures of 34C or 35C across parts of southern England.
“After that the heatwave will start to subside.” Lucy Barker, a hydrological analyst at UKCEH, said: “Current forecasts suggest that dry and warm weather will continue for southern Britain through the first half of August, and hydrological forecasts suggest below normal river flows in southern Britain are likely to persist over the next few months, with exceptionally low flows likely in many catchments.
“Groundwater levels and reservoir stocks are likely to continue to decline in these areas. We would expect to see continued impacts on agriculture and the environment in addition to further pressures on water supplies, with the possibility of further restrictions.”
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