Prohibited activities

Policy of Prohibited Activities Relating to Land Owned, Controlled or Managed by North Tyneside Council

Glossary

  • LWS - Local Wildlife Sites
  • SLCIs - Sites of Local Conservation Interest
  • SPAs - Special Protection Areas
  • SSSIs - Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  • St Mary’s MCZ - Marine Conservation Zone
  • UAVs - Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones)

Introduction

North Tyneside Council is committed to ensuring its parks, beaches and other open spaces are enjoyable and safe places for residents and visitors to enjoy.

Some activities may be harmful to wildlife and the environment, cause nuisance to residents and visitors or be considered as anti-social.

Consequently, certain activities outlined in this Policy are not permitted on land owned, controlled or managed by North Tyneside Council.

The Our North Tyneside Council Plan 2025 - 2029 outlines a vision for creating an even better North Tyneside with 'better lives for all' a clear ambition.  This policy sits within that ambition and reflects North Tyneside Council’s commitment to tackling problematic issues that can be associated with the activities outlined in the policy.

Aims of the Policy

This policy sets out the Authority’s commitment to tackling problematic issues associated with a number of activities that have been taking place within North Tyneside. 

The Policy relates to land owned, controlled or managed by North Tyneside Council and specifically:

  • Our beaches.
  • Our parks.
  • Our country parks.
  • Incidental areas of public open space. including our wagonways and bridle paths.
  • Designated Wildlife Sites (Special Protection Areas (SPAs)/Ramsar sites; Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s); Coquet to St Mary’s MCZ (Marine Conservation Zone); Local Wildlife Sites & Sites of Local Conservation Interest (LWS & SLCIs); Local Nature Reserves.

What activities are covered by the Policy?

  • The release of balloons and sky lanterns.
  • Camping, including unauthorised overnight stays in caravans, motorhomes and campervans.
  • Bonfires (unless as part of a professional event authorised by the Council).
  • Unauthorised firepits.
  • The release of fireworks (unless as part of a professional event authorised by the Council).
  • The riding or racing of quadbikes, motorbikes, mopeds, e-scooters and high-powered e-bikes.
  • Intrusive metal detecting involving digging on land.
  • Use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UVA’s) or drones.

Principles that have been considered in relation to these activities

  • Does the activity have the potential to disturb or harm wildlife?
  • Does the activity have the potential to damage or harm the environment?
  • Does the activity have the potential to damage land owned or controlled by North Tyneside Council?
  • Does the activity have the potential to be considered as anti-social or cause occasional nuisance to the public?
  • Does the activity have the potential to pose a health and safety risk?

Activities that are not permitted on land owned or controlled by North Tyneside Council

Our Beaches

  • The release of balloons and sky lanterns.
  • Camping, including unauthorised overnight stays in caravans, motorhomes and campervans.
  • Bonfires (unless as part of a professional event authorised by the Council)
  • Unauthorised firepits.
  • The release of fireworks (unless as part of a professional event authorised by the Council).
  • The riding or racing of quadbikes, motorbikes, mopeds, e-scooters and
  • high-powered e-bikes.

Our Parks

  • The release of balloons and sky lanterns.
  • Camping, including unauthorised overnight stays in caravans, motorhomes and campervans.
  • Bonfires (unless as part of a professional event authorised by the Council).
  • Unauthorised firepits.
  • The release of fireworks (unless as part of a professional event authorised by the Council).
  • The riding or racing of quadbikes, motorbikes, mopeds, e-scooters and
  • high-powered e-bikes.
  • Intrusive metal detecting involving digging on land.

Our Country Parks

The release of balloons and sky lanterns.

  • The release of balloons and sky lanterns.
  • Camping, including unauthorised overnight stays in caravans, motorhomes and campervans.
  • Bonfires (unless as part of a professional event authorised by the Council)
  • Unauthorised firepits.
  • The release of fireworks (unless as part of a professional event authorised by the Council).
  • The riding or racing of quadbikes, motorbikes, mopeds, e-scooters and
  • high-powered e-bikes.
  • Intrusive metal detecting involving digging on land.

Our Incidental Areas of Public Open Space Including the Waggonway Network and Bridle Paths

The release of balloons and sky lanterns.

  • The release of balloons and sky lanterns.
  • Camping, including unauthorised overnight stays in caravans, motorhomes and campervans.
  • Bonfires (unless as part of a professional event authorised by the Council).
  • Unauthorised firepits.
  • The release of fireworks (unless as part of a professional event authorised by the Council).
  • The riding or racing of quadbikes, motorbikes, mopeds, e-scooters and
  • high-powered e-bikes.
  • Intrusive metal detecting involving digging on land.

Designated Wildlife Sites

  • The release of balloons and sky lanterns.
  • Camping, including unauthorised overnight stays in caravans, motorhomes and campervans.
  • Bonfires.
  • The release of fireworks.
  • The riding or racing of quadbikes, motorbikes, mopeds, e-scooters and
  • high-powered e-bikes.
  • Intrusive metal detecting involving digging on land.
  • Use of UVA’s or drones (Unless authorised by Natural England and the Council).

Potential enforcement

The Authority’s Parks, Beach and Wagonway Wardens will report any breaches of the Policy to the Strategic Property Team. Officers will then have regard to the Authority’s Enforcement Policy and Code for Regulators and the circumstances surrounding the breach before enforcement action is considered. 

Breaches of the Policy could either result in a warning being issued to an individual or enforcement action being taken through the civil courts or potentially through the Magistrates’ Court. In either case, court action would only be taken if it was considered a proportionate step to take and being in the public interest. Enforcement action through the Courts will always be the last resort.

Reporting an activity that is not permitted under this policy

Reports can also be made through the North Tyneside Council website or by phoning the council

Email

Telephone 0345 2000101

For any queries regarding the use of firepits, please contact the Strategic Property Team:- 

Email:- strategic.property@northtyneside.gov.uk

Telephone:- 0191 643 2412