David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, has released the following statement after the government issued a temporary ban on the sale of disposable barbecues.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said:
"The Government’s announcement to temporarily ban disposable barbecues from sale is welcome. For weeks, I have been asking retailers in York and North Yorkshire to remove these £5 wildfire kits from sale, and I'm glad the Government has acted and done the right thing.
"Last year's wildfire on Langdale/Fylingdales Moor saw unprecedented amounts of North Yorkshire moorland burn, emitting more carbon from the burning peat beds than any wildfire in recent memory. These fires caused great harm to our communities, our wildlife, and our countryside. And they were all completely avoidable. I would like to once again thank our hardworking Fire Service, as well as the farmers, gamekeepers and landowners who were instrumental in getting the blaze under control.
"A temporary halt, particularly in times of dry weather like we're experiencing currently, is a sensible move to avoid us repeating the events of last summer.
"I will continue to push for retailers to withdraw the sale of disposable barbecues across York and North Yorkshire on a permanent basis. The convenience of one must never come before the safety of our rural communities, our landscapes and our wildlife."