The Downs was “close to disaster” several times this summer due to people having barbecues during the drought and drivers parking on the grass. Last month both the eclipse and the Balloon Fiesta saw a dangerous amount of people gather, prompting calls for a safety review.
Despite warnings of wildfire risks, barbecues were still lit on the dry, brown grass at the Downs and in parks across Bristol. A lack of parking controls led to chaotic scenes during the eclipse. And just a wobbly fence separated lots of people watching hot air balloons from a steep clifftop.
As future summers are forecast to be even hotter, the Downs committee was urged to consider how the historic parkland in north Bristol could soon face similar fire risks. The committee also heard about a plan to upgrade the clifftop fence, which is being held back by a funding shortage.
Ben Skuse, parks supervisor at Bristol City Council, said: “I’m on the ground seeing the near fire risk. My team are out there clearing up. We’re seeing really vividly how close we have come, last summer and this summer to having some disastrous fire events. One of the things that could happen that would help is if a permanent ban on disposable barbecues comes into law.”
However, this summer saw less of a risk of fire from gas canisters than previous years, after people living in vans left the area due to changing council rules. And an injunction has led to fewer Travellers staying on the grass, with the police able to take action much more quickly. But with the climate heating up, discussions are already taking place about fire risks next summer.
Another problem is at the Observatory Hill, next to the Clifton Suspension Bridge. This year saw more people than usual gather to watch the lifts during the Balloon Fiesta, however the fence along the clifftop is “a bit wobbly in places” and not safe enough to protect such a large crowd.
Mr Skuse added: “It is in no way geared to crowds of people up against it looking into the distance. And then hot off the heels of that was the solar eclipse event. People were driving their vehicles onto the Downs, in and among the crowds, and it’s potentially disastrous. Cars driving on the grass areas of the Downs is a huge risk.”
In August disposable barbecues were temporarily banned from sale across the country, due to the drought and heatwave increasing the number of wildfires. The government also sent out an alert to mobile phones in England and Wales warning of the “very high risk of wildfires”, and warned against using disposable barbecues.
Also this summer, a fire in Shirehampton prompted road closures and emergency warnings for local residents to keep doors and windows closed. The M5 was closed southbound Thornbury and Almondsbury because of a wildfire. And a strong smell of smoke wafted over Bristol from wildfires in the South Wales Valleys.
An eclipse viewing session was held at the Sea Walls viewpoint, with specialist telescopes and free cardboard observing glasses. Crowds of people rushed to get cardboard glasses and drivers flooded the grass with parked cars. The event was organised by the Bristol Astronomical Society, Friends of the Downs and Avon Gorge, and We The Curious.
Ian Witham, chair of Friends of the Downs and Avon Gorge, said: “I actually organised it. We went through all the due event processes. We had feedback from the fire brigade, emergency services and police. At all times I made it very clear the event that we organised was specifically to observe the sun with a very small number of people and a small amount of equipment.
“I made it very clear to the events team [aBristol City Council] that you’re going to get thousands of people there. This is not within our remit, we don’t have the facilities, we’re not charging, and I’m afraid what came true came true.”
Similar crowds filled the Observatory Hill for the Balloon Fiesta when organisers closed the entrance to an already full Ashton Court.
Replacing the clifftop fence is one of the main actions in the Downs 2030 programme. It’s unclear how the committee could get money to pay for this. But the council and the Society of Merchant Venturers have both chipped in for “seed funding”, to pay for a professional fundraiser to help set up a pilot project and secure the money needed for the programme. This also includes creating a new goat enclosure, improving access for climbers and redeveloping the Sea Walls public toilets into a new café.
Bevis Watts, a member of the Merchant Venturers, said: “The first project, after discussion with various parties, will be the replacement fencing along the gorge and Downs boundary. Partly because that’s very complementary to all the species recovery work, but it also addresses submissions we’ve previously had to the Downs committee about safety concerns.”
By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporter