Barbecues at Highbury Fields

• IT’S good to see the council consulting on its proposals for barbecues in the borough’s largest open space, Highbury Fields, (Highbury Fields BBQ consultation begins, February 18).

There’s a neat online questionnaire with a very clear map, and people living in the adjacent wards have received information in their letterboxes.

This time, though, they’ve got the questions a bit muddled and it makes it seem like they’ve already made up their mind. Basic things like “Do you support the introduction of a byelaw?” rather than the specific byelaw they have drafted.

The questions only allow a yes/no response. While there is space for comments, it’s hard to know how to respond if you don’t fully agree or fully disagree with the proposals.

So in my opinion, the consultation does need to be paused to allow the questions to be redrafted in a clearer way. Then we can all respond with full confidence in the process, whatever our opinions about the proposals.

I’d give our hard-working council officers 5/10 for effectiveness on this one, but 10/10 for effort.

CONOR MOLONEY
Grosvenor Avenue, N5