Tintwistle Moor must be a wake-up call

The recent heatwave has certainly got me thinking about the summer holidays. But before I look ahead to the weeks to come, I want to reflect on what happened on Tintwistle Moor last week.

Sadly, our worst fears came true.

Following the hottest day of June on record, with temperatures reaching around 30 degrees in Glossop, a devastating wildfire broke out on Tintwistle Moor. By the time it was finally brought under control, around 200 hectares of moorland – the equivalent of almost 280 football pitches – had been destroyed.

I want to pay tribute to the incredible firefighters from Derbyshire and Greater Manchester, alongside all the agencies and volunteers who worked tirelessly in extremely difficult conditions to contain the blaze. They spent days protecting lives, homes and our precious countryside, and we all owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

This fire didn’t come as a surprise. For months I have been warning that High Peak is the constituency most at risk from wildfires anywhere in the country. As hotter, drier summers become more common as a result of climate change, the risks are only increasing.

That is why I have been campaigning to reduce those risks before disaster strikes.

I have written to all of the major supermarkets and retailers asking them to stop selling disposable barbecues in areas like High Peak, where they pose a serious wildfire risk. These products might seem harmless, but when taken onto dry moorland they can have devastating consequences.

I have had some very positive responses from Home Bargains and Morrisons so far and I am still working hard to get more retailers to follow suit. I want to thank the store manager at Tesco in Whaley Bridge, who listened to those concerns and made the decision to remove disposable barbecues from sale locally. But Tesco nationally has yet to respond and step up to save our countryside. I hope they will now seriously consider the role they can play in helping to prevent future fires, alongside other major retailers.

Of course, disposable barbecues are not the only danger. One discarded cigarette, an unattended campfire or even litter left behind can have catastrophic consequences. Glass bottles are particularly dangerous because they can intensify sunlight and increase the risk of fires starting. I was disappointed to receive videos showing litter left at Waterswallows Quarry after the recent spell of warm weather. Our countryside is one of High Peak’s greatest assets, and we all have a responsibility to look after it.

Please don’t bring disposable barbecues onto our moors. Don’t light fires or use open flames in dry conditions. Take your litter home and dispose of cigarettes safely. These are small actions that could prevent another devastating wildfire.

Despite everything that has happened, I am still looking forward to the summer ahead with my kids. High Peak has some fantastic carnivals, festivals and community events coming up, and I hope families will also benefit from the government’s Great British Summer Savings package, including free bus travel for under-16s and lower costs for family attractions like theme parks and zoos.

Let’s enjoy everything our beautiful constituency has to offer this summer. But let’s also learn the lessons of Tintwistle Moor and do everything we can to ensure we never see devastation on that scale again.