Park ban on barbecues, fireworks and Chinese lanterns
ACTION AT BEAUTY SPOT BLIGHTED BY ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AND PEOPLE STARTING FIRES
PLANS to ban people setting off fireworks or having bonfires at a muchloved beauty spot have been hailed as a “step in the right direction”.
Vicar Water Country Park, in Clipstone Village near Mansfield, has been a hotbed of anti-social activity in recent years and the target of a series of fires.
A burnt-out bench and destroyed signs were discovered at at the park alongside used fireworks on the morning after Bonfire Night last year, sparking outrage from the community.
The park has also seen large-scale blazes, with parents in the area encouraged to speak with their children after land “the size of 14 football pitches” caught fire in 2019.
The acts have led to Newark and Sherwood District Council exploring the possibility of enforcing a Public Spaces Protection Order at the park.
If the order is approved, it will ban anybody from lighting fires, barbecues, Chinese lanterns, fireworks or any other object which “poses a risk of fire”.
The move has been welcomed by people in the Clipstone community, who have hit out at the “minority” of people not treating the park with “respect”.
Paul Peacock is Labour councillor for Edwinstowe and Clipstone on Newark and Sherwood District Council.
He told the Post: “We’ve had a lot of problems at Vicar Water, especially at the back end of last summer when there were fires and people setting off fireworks.
“The district council are trying to do something to prevent that, and to raise awareness for local people.
“It’s about saying what a fantastic country park it is that we look after, it’s very well-used, and we need to protect.
“Obviously it’s really frustrating, people enjoy using the country park, but also there are staff down there who work really hard to look after it.
“It is at the end of the day a very small minority of people, who feel like it’s perfectly good behaviour.
“But it’s not at all, and it would be nice if this small minority of people showed the country park some respect.”
Wayne Swiffin, a local resident, also sits on Clipstone Parish Council.
He added: “It’s a step in the right direction to help cut some of the anti-social behaviour that blights the park,” he told the Post.
“However, I think there is a minority of people who need to show more respect for the area in which they live and the fantastic places on their doorstep.”
Newark and Sherwood District Council says the orders are in place to “promote responsible behaviour” and prevent “persistent” nuisance.
A council spokesperson said: “A
PSPO can be made where a council is satisfied that an activity will have a detrimental effect on the quality of life of those living in the locality, is persistent in nature and is unreasonable. “We are currently considering a Public Space Protection Order for Vicar Water Country Park in relation to combating firerelated nuisance on the Park. “The proposed terms are: ‘a person or persons are prohibited from the following activities being: the lighting of fires; barbecues; Chinese lanterns, fireworks; or using any article/object which causes a naked flame and which poses a risk of fire.’”
“If you have any questions and wish to speak to our anti-social behaviour team about the proposal please call 01636 655207.”
It would be nice if this small minority of people showed the country park some respect
Councillor Paul Peacock