Play is OK - if council agrees (From Gazette Series)

Play is OK - if council agrees

ORGANISED activities on the Canon Park Recreation Field must be approved by Berkeley Town Council and their insurers it was decided at a meeting on Monday night.

The decision was made after a couple of residents had sought permission to use the field for hobbies that were seen as potentially dangerous.

Council had been approached by a man who wanted to fly a model aircraft from the field, while last month chairman Cllr Ralph Pinnell had to stop a man sailing a land yacht there without permission.

The incidents led the council to consider the imposing of restrictions on what activities can take place on the field.

All organised activities on the field can only take place with a permission of the council through the signing of a letting agreement, such as the one used by Berkeley Town Football Club.

At Monday's meeting councillors heard a 15-minute talk from a Canon Park resident, who was asking to be allowed to use a Parkfly model aircraft.

This is made of polystyrene and is considerably smaller, lighter and quieter than more traditional types of model aeroplanes.

They have been designed specifically to fly in smaller spaces such as parks, in which it is anti-social to fly the larger craft.

The man told the council: "When these Parkfly planes are running they are virtually silent and if someone was hit by one it would have no more effect than being hit by a bag of crisps."

Although opinion was somewhat divided, councillors agreed, subject to the policy of their insurers, to allow individuals to fly such planes at Canon Park if each person asked the permission of the council.

However, on Tuesday town clerk Debbie Burrow told the Gazette that the insurers had refused to cover the council for model aircraft flying and so the man would not be allowed to fly his models at the recreation field.

Councillors have not specifically asked the insurers about any other activities, including land yacht sailing, but will consider each request on its merits and safety grounds - although the insurers will ultimately decide what is permitted.

However, they have already outlawed golf practising.

Cllr John Freeland said: "I think allowing golf to be played there would be highly dangerous as balls can be hit 300 yards."

Children playing football or other games among themselves are not affected because the field is a public open space.