Group Fined After Lighting Open Fire During Bonfire Night Patrols In Lake District
A group has been fined after police officers discovered an open fire during Bonfire Night patrols around Ullswater.
Police community support officers from the Eden Neighbourhood Policing Team came across the group on Thursday, November 5, while carrying out patrols in the Ullswater area and surrounding countryside.
Officers were monitoring locations identified as potential hotspots for anti-social behaviour and environmental damage during the Bonfire Night period.
The patrols also covered areas subject to a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), which gives authorities powers to address specified activities that can cause harm or disruption in public spaces.
Police said open fires can cause significant and lasting damage to the natural environment. Lighting one in an area covered by the protection order was also a breach of its restrictions.
The officers instructed the group to extinguish the fire. Those involved were spoken to about the potential impact of their actions on the surrounding landscape.
A fixed penalty notice was subsequently issued to the group as enforcement action over the incident.
The intervention formed part of wider efforts to prevent anti-social behaviour and protect sensitive areas of the Lake District during one of the busiest nights of the autumn.
Open fires can leave lasting marks on the countryside and create risks beyond the immediate area where they are lit. Damage to vegetation and the surrounding environment can remain long after the flames have been extinguished.
The Lake District National Park is subject to a range of visitor-management measures intended to protect its landscape and communities. These include public information campaigns, patrols and enforcement action carried out with partner organisations.
Public Space Protection Orders are used in designated locations to restrict activities associated with anti-social behaviour and environmental damage. Breaching an applicable order can lead to enforcement action.
The incident is a reminder to visitors to respect local restrictions and avoid lighting unauthorised fires in the countryside. People enjoying the Lake District are encouraged to leave the landscape as they found it and take care not to cause damage.
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