Yahoo News New London park rules are passed, and council insists: no fines for kids climbing trees
A London council has insisted that children will not be fined hundreds of pounds for climbing trees in its parks after controversial new by-laws were passed.
Along with tree climbing, such traditional outdoor pursuits as kite-flying and a knockabout game of cricket - along with other activities considered “annoying” to others - could be at risk of falling foul of the fresh regulations.
But as a committee unanimously agreed to pass the new by-laws on Wednesday night, the south-west London council pledged the borough’s so-called park police would not use them to stop children from having fun.
Councillor Jonathan Cook said the updated guidelines would be applied in a “common sense” way, and that no youngsters would be stopped from flying a kite or climbing a tree.
The borough is overhauling park rules for the first time in nearly a century, with the threat that anyone breaking them could be fined and ejected by police-style officials.
The London council’s previous 27-point list drawn up in 1924 will now be replaced with 49 new measures, including bans on metal detectors and remote control model boats on ponds.
Anyone who cannot provide a “reasonable excuse” for their transgression will be told they are committing an offence.
Wandsworth said today that new regulations relating to outdoor games would not apply to those under 18.
Cllr Cook said the new rules drafted by the Department for Communities and Local Government had already been rolled out by 14 other councils in the capital.
He added: “The existing Wandsworth by-laws that relate to our parks date back many decades and simply aren’t relevant for 2018.
“For example one of the bylaws forbids cattle, sheep and goats being taken into our parks. We need modern by-laws in place that will help us to best look after, maintain and preserve our wonderful park resources.
“A lot has been made of these changes but the reality is that all we are doing is bringing the by-laws for our parks and open spaces into the 21st century, replicating what has already been done across much of London.”
It comes after the authority became embroiled in a row over heavy-handed policing of childhood play when three-year-old Old Idrees Waiysil and his dad were forced to leave Battersea Park when officers accused them of breaking by-laws by playing with a toy car.
Inspector Steve Biggs, who helps police Wandsworth’s parks, spoke at the meeting and said that in the 30 years he has been in the role, neither he nor any of his colleagues had stopped children from playing in parks.
He said: “The service has not reported any child for flying a kite, climbing trees or playing ball games. We actively encourage parents to come along and enjoy our facilities. It’s all about common sense.”
