Protection Orders approved to try and stop wildfires

Published on 27 April 2021

Lighting fires, barbecues, fireworks and Chinese lanterns has been banned to help prevent wildfires at high-risk locations in the High Peak.

High Peak Borough Council has approved the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) covering land owned by the Council and all parts of the Borough that lie within the boundary of the Peak District National Park that are open to the air and to which the public have access.

David Smith, Principal Officer for Communities and Partnerships, said: "This Order is coming into force at a good time as Covid restrictions start to ease and we can expect more people to visit the High Peak. Sadly, in recent days, firefighters have been called on to tackle blazes in our area so this action is necessary to help try and reduce incidents.

"The majority of fires are caused by careless, thoughtless behaviour and are, therefore, preventable.

"We hope that as well as stopping fires, this Order will help to raise awareness of the dangers so that people who visit these locations to enjoy the landscapes think twice about their actions and how to play their part in protecting our natural environment."

The Order is in place for a period of three years.

Find out more about the wildfires PSPO at www.highpeak.gov.uk/PSPO