Published Wednesday 7 April 2021 at 11:41
The Council has issued a response regarding the use of model aircraft at Pleasington Playing Fields.
We want everyone to be able to enjoy our parks and open spaces safely.
The law regarding the flying of model aircraft has recently changed. Clubs now have to adhere to a number of new limitations and conditions, which includes:
- Aircrafts under 7.5kg must not fly within 30m of uninvolved people and 30m horizontal distance from an assembly of people.
- Aircrafts over 7.5kg must not fly within 30m of uninvolved people and 50m horizontal distance from an assembly of people.
The Blackburn and District Model Aircraft Club use Pleasington playing fields in Witton Country Park for model aircraft flying. Pleasington is a very busy public space with a significant number of dog walkers, recreational walkers and football and cricket being played at the site.
In light of this, the Council has liaised with the model aircraft club to help find an alternative site and identified a club operating at Huntley’s on the A59, which is more suited to the new regulations.
The Council have agreed to meet committee members from the flying club and officers’ from the British Model Flying Association next week to discuss how the club can safely continue to fly model aircrafts in accordance with the new limitations and conditions at Pleasington playing fields.
The CAA, who also govern general aviation for recreational flying, adopted new regulations last year, which have been used to take this decision.
The Regulations state:
“The intent is that the unmanned aircraft will only be flown in areas that are clear of uninvolved persons and will not be flown in areas that are used for residential, commercial, industrial or recreational.”
Martin Kelly, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Strategic Director of Place, said:
“We understand the club will be disappointed by this decision. As the land manager, we have to find a way to meet legal requirements to ensure the safety of all users and the activities of other local community and sports groups using the space.
“The new regulations, adopted by the Civil Aviation Authority in December 2020, have been reviewed also taking into account that outdoor recreation has increased over the last 12 months due to the Pandemic. Even more people are now using the space – which is good for general health and wellbeing.
“This is a difficult balancing act and we have been working to support the group to find a suitable solution and helping to identify another location. All parties have a common goal to ensure public safety.
Mr Kelly added:
“Whilst most model aircraft and drone flights are likely to be harmless recreation, they do have the potential given their size, weight and the speed that they are flown, in the wrong hands or even due to accidental error, to present a serious danger to the public.
“The Council would quite rightly be held accountable if someone was seriously injured or worse; so whilst we understand that this is really disappointing, we have to put the safety of our residents and visitors first – taking into account the regulations adopted by expert regulators.”