Decision report 201101105

Summary
Since 2010 Mrs C has been concerned about the damage caused to the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links, a public parkland area in Edinburgh, by the use of barbecues. Mrs C has also been concerned about the health and safety implications of the use of barbecues and the disposal of resultant waste, including disposable barbecue trays.

Mrs C corresponded with the council about these concerns, given that the council's Management Rules for Public Parks prohibit the lighting of fires or barbecues without the council's written permission. In 2010 the council implemented a trial scheme to allow barbecues to be used in the park on concrete slabs installed for that purpose. This trial was again implemented in 2011. Mrs C did not feel this improved the situation and lodged a formal complaint in August 2011 that the council were not implementing their Management Rules for Public Parks.

In their response to Mrs C's complaints the council told her that the trial scheme would be reviewed and outlined various actions they would take to manage the situation over the remainder of summer 2011. Mrs C was dissatisfied with their response and raised her complaints with us. We decided that the council's actions had taken into account rule 7 of the Management Rules for Public Parks, which allowed the council to waive any rule at any time and, therefore, did not uphold the complaint.