By-laws could spell end to kite flying

Children from Weeton Primary School make and fly kites with help from parents.

Shouting, playing a musical instrument or landing a helicopter on the site could also be off the menu.

Plans for the new by-laws were discussed at a full meeting of Nottinghamshire County Council yesterday (Thursday).

Brian Taylor, of Bulwell, who is a regular user of the country park, said: “This seems like taking a sledgehammer to crack a walnut.

“Perhaps we should have a sing-along on the country park while we still can. What about ‘Let’s go Fly a Kite’ as one of the numbers?”

A Bestwood Village woman who did not want to be named said: “I am surprised the county council have come forward with this idea. Is it really necessary to bring in these by-laws?”

The county council’s countryside team manager, Gareth Broome, said: “The Government set out a legal procedure for the adoption of local by-laws. These have provided the model of country park by-laws that local authorities can choose to introduce.

“There are currently no by-laws in place at Bestwood Country Park. These are traditionally a means of discouraging nuisance and minor anti-social behaviour, which assists park managers, park rangers and local police in their jobs.

“There is no intention to discourage visitors or interfere with normal enjoyment of the countryside. But by-laws provide a deterrent, increasing the authority of park staff to tackle minor nuisance such as unauthorised fishing, fires and camping.

“Other country parks and local nature reserves under the county council’s control have by-laws in place for this reason.

The proposal has been discussed with Bestwood Development Group, an informal local body of park users and stakeholders. Some think by-laws are not necessary and have suggested a voluntary code of behaviour instead.

But Mr Broome said: “Based on past experience, park managers feel this is insufficient and gives them little power to counter nuisance behaviour.”

If the proposals are adopted, they will be advertised in the local press for public inspection and any comments will be taken into account.

The chosen set of by-laws will then be forwarded to the Government for confirmation if no objections are received.