Byelaws
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority

 

Byelaws made under Section 28 of the Lee Valley Regional Park Act 1966 by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority with respect to Lee Valley Regional Park.

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PART 1 - GENERAL

1. General Interpretation
In these byelaws:

“the Authority” means Lee Valley Regional Park Authority;

“the park” means the Country Park and other recreational land as defined in Sub-section (2) of section (2) of the Lee Valley Regional Park Act 1966 as extended by section 23 of the same Act, as coloured red on the plan deposited at Myddelton House, Bulls Cross, Enfield, EN2 9HG in the County of Middlesex.

“designated area” means an area in the ground which is set aside for a specified purpose, that area and its purpose to be indicated by notices placed in a conspicuous position;

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“invalid carriage” means a vehicle, whether mechanically propelled or not,

(a) the unladen weight of which does not exceed 150 kilograms,
(b) the width of which does not exceed 0.85 metres, and
(c) which has been constructed or adapted for use for the carriage of a person suffering from a disability, and used solely by such a person.

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2. Application
These byelaws apply to all of the grounds listed in Schedule 1.

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3. Opening times
No person shall enter or remain in the park except during advertised opening hours.

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PART 2 - PROTECTION OF THE GROUND, ITS WILDLIFE AND THE PUBLIC

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4. Protection of structures and plants

(1) No person shall without reasonable excuse remove from or displace within the ground:

(a) any barrier, post, seat or implement, or any part of a structure or ornament provided for use in the laying out or maintenance of the ground; or
(b) any stone, soil or turf or the whole or any part of any plant, shrub or tree.

(2) No person shall walk on or ride, drive or station a horse or any vehicle over:

(a) any flower bed, shrub or plant;
(b) any ground in the course of preparation as a flower bed or for the growth of any  tree, shrub or plant; or
(c) any part of the ground set aside by the Authority for the renovation of turf or for other landscaping purposes and  indicated by a notice conspicuously displayed.

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5. Unauthorised erection of structures
No person shall without the consent of the Authority erect any barrier, post, ride or swing, building or any other structure.

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6. Climbing
No person shall without reasonable excuse climb any wall or fence in or enclosing the ground, or any tree, or any barrier, railing, post or other structure.

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7. Grazing
No person shall without the consent of the Authority turn out or permit any animal for which he is responsible to graze in the ground.

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8. Protection of wildlife
No person shall without the consent of the Authority kill, injure, take or disturb any animal, or engage in hunting or shooting or the setting of traps or the laying of snares.

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9. Gates
(1) No person shall leave open any gate to which this byelaw applies and which he has opened or caused to be opened.
(2) Byelaw 9(1) applies to any gate to which is attached, or near to which is displayed, a conspicuous notice stating that leaving the gate open is prohibited.

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10. Camping
No person shall without the consent of the Authority erect a tent or use a vehicle, caravan or any other structure for the purpose of camping except in a designated area for camping.

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11. Fires
(1) No person shall light a fire or place, throw or drop a lighted match or any other thing likely to cause a fire.
(2) Byelaw 11(1) shall not apply to:

(a) the lighting of a fire at any event for which the Authority has given permission that fires may be lit;  
                      

12. Missiles           
No person shall throw or use any device to propel or discharge in the ground any object which is liable to cause injury to any other person.

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13. Interference with life-saving equipment
No person shall except in case of emergency remove from or displace within the ground or otherwise tamper with any life-saving appliance provided by the Authority.

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PART 3 - HORSES, CYCLES AND VEHICLES

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14. Interpretation of Part 3

In this Part:

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“designated route” means a route in or through the ground which is set aside for a specified purpose, its route and that purpose to be indicated by notices placed in a conspicuous position;

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“motor cycle” means a mechanically-propelled vehicle, not being an invalid carriage, with less than four wheels and the weight of which does not exceed 410 kilograms;

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“motor vehicle” means any mechanically-propelled vehicle other than a motor cycle or an invalid carriage;

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“trailer” means a vehicle drawn by a motor vehicle and includes a caravan.

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15. Horses
(1) No person shall ride a horse except:

(a) in any of the grounds listed in Part 2 of Schedule 2; or
(b) in the exercise of a lawful right or privilege.

(2) Where horse-riding is permitted in any ground by virtue of byelaw 15(1)(a) or a lawful right or privilege, no person shall ride a horse in such a manner as to cause danger to any other person

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16. Cycling
No person shall without reasonable excuse ride a cycle in the ground except in any part of the ground where there is a right of way for cycles or on a designated route for cycling.

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17. Motor vehicles           
(1) No person shall without reasonable excuse bring into or drive in the ground a motor cycle, motor vehicle or trailer except in any part of the ground where there is a right of way or a designated route for that class of vehicle.
(2) Where there is a designated route for motor cycles, motor vehicles or trailers, it shall not be an offence under this byelaw to bring into or drive in the ground a vehicle of that class for the sole purpose of transporting it to the route.
        
18. Overnight parking           
No person shall without the consent of the Authority leave or cause or permit to be left any motor vehicle in the ground between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

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PART 4 - PLAY AREAS, GAMES AND SPORTS

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19. Interpretation of Part 4

In this Part:

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“ball games” means any game involving throwing, catching, kicking, batting or running with any ball or other object designed for throwing and catching, but does not include cricket;
          
“golf course” means any area within the ground set aside for the purposes of playing golf and includes any golf driving range, golf practice area or putting course;

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“self-propelled vehicle” means a vehicle other than a cycle, invalid carriage or pram which is propelled by the weight or force of one or more persons skating, sliding or riding on the vehicle or by one or more persons pulling or pushing the vehicle.   

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20. Children’s play areas
No person aged 14 years or over shall enter or remain in a designated area which is a children’s play area unless in charge of a child under the age of 14 years.
          
21. Children’s play apparatus
No person aged 14 years or over shall use any apparatus stated to be for the exclusive use of persons under the age of 14 years by a notice conspicuously displayed on or near the apparatus.

 

22. Skateboarding, etc
No person shall skate, slide or ride on rollers, skateboards or other self-propelled vehicles in such a manner as to cause danger or give reasonable grounds for annoyance to other persons.          

 

23. Ball games
No person shall play ball games outside a designated area for playing ball games in such a manner:

(a) as to exclude persons not playing ball games from use of that part;
(b) as to cause danger or give reasonable grounds for annoyance to any other person in the ground; or
(c) which is likely to cause damage to any tree, shrub or plant in the ground.

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24. Ball games - Rules
It is an offence for any person using a designated area for playing ball games to break any of the rules set out in Schedule 3 and conspicuously displayed on a sign in the designated area when asked by any person to desist from breaking those rules.

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25. Cricket
No person shall throw or strike a cricket ball with a bat except in a designated area for playing cricket.

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26. Archery
No person shall engage in the sport of archery except in connection with an event organised by or held with the consent of the Authority.

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27. Field sports
No person shall throw or put any javelin, hammer, discus or shot except in connection with an event organised by or held with the consent of the Authority.

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28. Golf
No person shall drive, chip or pitch a hard golf ball except on the golf course.

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29. Golf at a golf course
(1) No person shall play golf on the golf course unless he holds a valid ticket issued by or on behalf of the Authority entitling him to do so, which ticket shall be retained and shown on demand to any authorised officer or agent of the Authority.

(2) No person shall enter onto or remain on the golf course unless:

(a) taking part in the game of golf or accompanying a person so engaged; or
(b) doing so in the exercise of a lawful right or privilege.

(3) No person shall offer his service for hire as an instructor on the golf course without the consent of the Authority.

 

PART 5 - WATERWAYS

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30. Interpretation of Part 5

In this Part:

 

“boat” means any yacht, motor boat or similar craft but not a model or toy boat;

 

“power-driven” means driven by the combustion of petrol vapour or other combustible substances;

 

“waterway” means any river, lake, pool or other body of water and includes any fountain.

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31. Bathing
No person shall without reasonable excuse bathe or swim in any waterway.

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32. Ice skating
No person shall step onto or otherwise place their weight upon any frozen waterway.

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33. Model boats
No person shall operate a power-driven model boat on any waterway except in a designated area for model boats.

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34. Boats
No person shall sail or operate any boat, dinghy, canoe, sailboard or inflatable on any waterway without the consent of the Authority except in a designated area for the sailing or operation of boats.

35. Fishing
No person shall in any waterway cast a net or line for the purpose of catching fish or other animals except in a designated area for fishing.

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36. Pollution
No person shall foul or pollute any waterway.

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37. Blocking of watercourses
No person shall cause or permit the flow of any drain or watercourse in the ground to be obstructed, diverted, open or shut or otherwise move or operate any sluice or similar apparatus.

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PART 6 - MODEL AIRCRAFT

38. Interpretation of Part 6

In this Part:

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“Model aircraft” means an aircraft which weighs not more than 7 kilograms without its fuel;

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“power-driven” means driven by:

(a) the combustion of petrol vapour or other combustible substances;
(b) jet propulsion or by means of a rocket, other than by means of a small reaction motor powered by a solid fuel pellet not exceeding 2.54 centimetres in length; or
(c) one or more electric motors or by compressed gas.

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“Radio control” means control by a radio signal from a wireless transmitter or similar device.

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39. Model aircraft
No person shall cause any power-driven model aircraft to:
(1) take off or otherwise be released for flight or control the flight of such an aircraft in the ground; or
(2) land in the ground without reasonable excuse.

Byelaw 39 does not apply to the grounds listed in Part 3 of Schedule 2 column 1.

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PART 7 - OTHER REGULATED ACTIVITIES

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40. Provision of services
No person shall without the consent of the Authority provide or offer to provide any service for which a charge is made.

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41. Excessive noise

(1) No person shall, after being requested to desist by any other person in the ground, make or permit to be made any noise which is so loud or so continuous or repeated as to give reasonable cause for annoyance to other persons in the ground by:

(a) shouting or singing;
(b) playing on a musical instrument; or
(c) by operating or permitting to be operated any radio, amplifier, tape recorder or similar device.

(2) Byelaw 41(1) does not apply to any person holding or taking part in any entertainment held with the consent of the Authority.

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42. Public shows and performances
No person shall without the consent of the Authority hold or take part in any public show or performance.

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43. Aircraft, hang gliders and hot air balloons
No person shall except in case of emergency or with the consent of the Authority take off from or land on the ground in an aircraft, helicopter, hang glider or hot air balloon.

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44. Kites
(1) Where any part of the park has, by notices placed in conspicuous positions in the park, been set aside by the Authority as an area where kite flying is permitted no person shall fly or cause or permit to be flown any kite in any other part of the park.
(2) No person shall fly any kite in such a manner as to cause danger or give reasonable grounds for annoyance to any other person.

 

45. Metal detectors
(1) No person shall without the consent of the Authority use any device designed or adapted for detecting or locating any metal or mineral in the ground.
      
DOG CONTROL
   
46. Dogs prohibited from the grounds
(1) No person (other than a registered blind person) in charge of a dog shall without reasonable excuse, permit the dog to enter or remain in any of the dog prohibited areas.
(2) An officer of the Authority or any constable may require a person in charge of a dog which has entered any of the dog prohibited areas to remove the dog therefrom.

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47. Dogs Fouling in the Car Parks
Every person (other than a registered blind person) in charge of a dog who permits the dog to foul any of the car parks by depositing its faeces thereon shall be guilty of an offence.

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48. Removal of Canine Faeces
Every person (other than a registered blind person) in charge of a dog which is in any of the canine faeces removal area who, without reasonable excuse, fails to remove forthwith from any such area any faeces deposited by the dog shall be guilty of an offence.

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49. Disposal of Canine Faeces
For the purposes of compliance with byelaw 48, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) it shall be sufficient removal from the canine faeces removal areas if the faeces are deposited in a receptacle within such area which has been provided for that purpose by the Council;
(b) without prejudice to the generality of the forgoing, it shall not be a reasonable excuse that a person in charge of a dog did not have with him any means of removal of the faeces.

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50. Disturbance
No person shall cause or suffer any dog belonging to him or in his charge to enter or remain in the Park unless such dog be and continue to be under proper control and be effectively restrained from:

(a) causing annoyance to any person,
(b) worrying or disturbing any animal or waterfowl,
(c) entering any water

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51. Maximum number of dogs
The maximum number of dogs, which a person may take onto permitted areas, is 5.

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52. Dogs on leads
(1) No person in charge of a dog shall, without reasonable excuse, permit the dog to enter or remain in any of the dogs on leads areas unless the dog is held on a lead and is restrained from behaviour giving reasonable grounds for annoyance.
(2) Where a person at any one time, is in charge of more than four dogs in permitted areas, all the dogs must be held on leads.

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53. Offences relating to Dog Control
(1) A person in charge of more than one dog shall be guilty of an offence if at any time he takes onto land in respect of which this byelaw applies more than the maximum number of dogs specified in byelaw 52 unless –

(a) he has reasonable excuse for doing so; or
(b) the owner, occupier or other person or authority having control of the land has consented (generally or specifically) to his doing so

(2) For the purposes of this byelaw- a person who habitually has a dog in his possession shall be taken to be in charge of the dog at any time unless at that time some other person is in charge of the dog.

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PART 8 - MISCELLANEOUS

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54.  Obstruction
No person shall obstruct:

(a) any officer of the Authority in the proper execution of his duties;
(b) any person carrying out an act which is necessary to the proper execution of any contract with the Authority or
(c) any other person in the proper use of the ground.

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55. Savings
(1) It shall not be an offence under these byelaws for an officer of the Authority or any person acting in accordance with a contract with the Authority to do anything necessary to the proper execution of his duty.
(2) Nothing in or done under these byelaws shall in any respect prejudice or injuriously affect any public right of way through the ground, or the rights of any person acting lawfully by virtue of some estate, right or interest in, over or affecting the ground or any part of the ground.    

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56. Removal of offenders
Any person offending against any of these byelaws may be removed from the ground by an officer of the Authority or a constable.  The Authority has the power of arrest in circumstances were they are not able to ascertain the details of an offender.

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57. Penalty
Any person offending against any of these byelaws shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale. In any proceedings for an offence under these byelaws, it shall be a defence for the person charged to prove that he took all reasonable precautions and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of such an offence.

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58. Revocation
The byelaws made by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority on 17 April 1997 and confirmed by Secretary of State for the Environment on 15 August 1997 relating to the ground are hereby revoked.

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Schedule 1 - GROUNDS TO WHICH BYELAWS APPLY GENERALLY

The grounds referred to in byelaw 2 are: grounds within the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority park boundary as set out in the Lee Valley Regional Park Act 1966 and they are: