Park launches free-to-use electric hotplates

Local chef Olajide, from Daddy O's in Elephant and Castle, helped launch the new eating facilities

An outdoor cooking area with electric hotplates has been installed for public use in Burgess Park in Camberwell, south London.

The cooking area, which is available on a first-come, first-served basis, is free to use and boasts three hotplates that are powered from 10am until dusk.

The scheme comes after a previous barbecue area in the park was removed amid a borough-wide parks ban on gas, wood and charcoal barbecues.

Southwark Council, which installed the hotplates, said the facilities would bring people together and provide an outdoor cooking space for those without a garden.

Electric cooking areas in parks are popular in warmer climes, such as in Sydney, Australia, although there are already hotplates at Paradise Park in Islington, north London.

Southwark Council says the facilities are open on a trial basis, and it will be seeking feedback from the public before any decision to make the scheme permanent.

Issues such as antisocial behaviour and rodents being attracted to the area will be assessed during the trial.

Councillors and community representatives gathered in Burgess Park to mark the opening of the new facilities

Valerie Rosa, from local community group Latin Elephant, said: 'It has been a lot of work through the years to make this project happen.

"We hope that the members of the communities surrounding Burgess Parks are able to enjoy what has become a privilege for many, having an outdoor eating area.”

'We are thrilled'

The council said its own officers and community members would be monitoring the site during the trial.

Signs will ask users to leave the hotplates clean for the next user, and a cleaning team from the council will visit each day.

Portia Mwangangye, cabinet member for leisure, parks and young people, said the site was "safer and more sustainable" than the previous barbecue area.

She said: "We are thrilled to open a brand-new trial outdoor cooking facility, as cooking has been at the heart of many community gatherings over the years."