Farmers and landowners are advocating for a temporary prohibition on disposable barbecues across England and Wales. They cite concerns about the potential for these items to ignite wildfires, particularly as much of England continues to experience hot, dry weather.
This call is also supported by firefighters, the Liberal Democrats, and numerous Labour MPs. The deputy president of the National Farmers Union highlighted wildfires as an urgent concern, noting the impact of recent heatwaves and drought on harvests.
The MP for High Peak, Jon Pearce, has written to retailers requesting they cease selling disposable barbecues. While most major supermarkets have already stopped sales, these items remain available in smaller shops, some hardware and DIY stores, and online.
Wildfires have impacted all regions of the UK this year, with an estimated 20,000 hectares having burned. Recent incidents include fires in the Rhondda Valley in Wales and the Cairngorms in Scotland.