London park trashed by group who left burgers and sausages cooking on barbecue

Complete mess: Revellers trashed the park
Gary Glover

A south London park was trashed by revellers who covered it in rubbish and even left a BBQ cooking burgers and sausages.

Bermondsey residents were left disgusted after finding the meat alongside heaps of rubbish and empty beer crates in King’s Stairs Gardens.

After spotting the mess while out walking his dog, Friends of Southwark Park chairman Gary Glover condemned the culprits for leaving it behind.

He told the Standard: “It was just a complete mess, barbecues still alight, rubbish everywhere, it was just disgusting.

“How could local people leave a lovely park like that in such a state?”

Mr Glover added that leaving barbecues behind was a hazard and could have had more serious consequences.

Meat feast: Revellers left behind barbecue cooking meat
Gary Glover

He now believes that patrols should be stepped up around the park on hot days to prevent an incident like the one on July 20 happening again.

He added: “It’s just really dangerous, I can’t believe someone could be so careless, small children play nearby and if they’re parents hadn’t been watching then they could have burnt themselves on it.

Disgraceful: Southwark Council condemned the mess
Gary Glover

“People shouldn’t have barbecues on the park anyway but if you’re going to have them then you have to be careful.

“I think the hot weather was an issue everywhere and I think patrols need to be stepped up when we know about it to make sure things like this are nipped in the bud.”

Dangerous: The lit barbecues were near a children's play area
Gary Glover

Southwark Council cabinet member for public health, parks and leisure, Maisie Anderson, said: “We spend hundreds of thousands of pounds each year keeping them clean and tidy for everyone to enjoy, but we do expect people to clear up after themselves and take their litter home or put it in the bin.

“The mess left in King’s Stairs Garden is disgraceful, but thankfully a rare occurrence.”

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