The consultation follows complaints about crowds, noise and damaged grass

Residents will be asked whether disposable barbecues should be banned at Canoe Lake.

But councillors insisted there would be no overall ban because the council “is not a killjoy”.

The move follows growing complaints about noise, litter, large gatherings, damage to the park in Southsea and disturbance to wildlife.

Portsmouth City Council is considering introducing a Public Spaces Protection Order, which gives it legal powers to tackle antisocial behaviour in a specific area. Before any rules can be introduced, residents must be consulted.

Councillors stressed there would not be a complete ban on barbecues, saying it has to balance “competing priorities”.

The proposed rules could include bans on interfering with wildlife, using flammable liquids, playing amplified music, putting up marquees and riding e-scooters.

Councillor Lee Hunt also suggested asking residents whether disposable barbecues should be banned, while only allowing charcoal barbecues if they are raised off the ground to stop the grass being damaged.

A St Helen’s Parade resident told the meeting the biggest problem was the recent rise in large barbecue gatherings, which he said had been caused by restrictions in other parts of south east England.

This meant that many people gathering at Canoe Lake are from outside Hampshire.

The resident also pointed to a petition by local litter-picking group Protect Our Parks, which has attracted more than 6,800 signatures and called for a complete ban on naked flames at Canoe Lake.

Councillor Peter Candlish said barbecues had become more popular in recent years, especially among the 12 per cent of Portsmouth households without a private or shared garden.

He said: “I’ve seen everything from wedding marques erected down there to pool tables to speakers and sound systems the size of Stone Henge – that’s not a trip down to the park, that’s an event.”

Councillor Matthew Cordy said there was an “overwhelming appetite” for extra controls, pointing to the petition and complaints from residents about noise and barbecues.

Cllr Hunt added there would be no “overall ban” because “the council is not a killjoy”, but it had to balance “competing priorities”.