So I started up a Twitter account and one of my fist posts was Instantly shot down with negative comments regarding flights over SSSI, I requested to see thier specific policy I was directed to thier website that had a broad statement
Quite right, because it appears to be complete bollocks. As noted previously, a “policy” has no legal status in and of itself. If they thing it’s illegal, and they can’t cite any legislation, there’s a fair chance that they are wrong.
I have forwarded thier tweets onto the CAA to shed some light. I like their last tweet the best.
I asked them do commercial planes and helicopters have to request to fly over a SSSI, there response “we have explained the councils policy, it is quite clear”.
One word of warning: this stretch of coastline does not seem to be owned by the Crown Estate, I assume it is owned by Sefton Council themselves. There may be no substance to their bluster about requiring Natural England permission over a SSSI, but if you TOAL from council land, they can eject you as a trespasser.
Indeed, that may be the only legal way they can enforce their anti-drone policy.
Little point arguing with the jobsworths, though, IMO.
I completely get that they can if they wanted to fo find a way to eject me.
It was just really frustrating that only my third post from a new drone photography twitter account was Instantly shot down by the drone police who have no idea about actual laws so I have sought to educate them as opposed to just be an arse or roll over and have my belly tickled.
I would love someone involved within policy writing within the local council to get involved and apply some common sense. Before I am a drone pilot I am an naturalist, I would never knowingly harm or disturb nature in any way and if this was the case I would gladly move on and fly elsewhere, however if someone simply says u cannot fly here “because we have a policy” this is a different matter
My local SSSI is a county council managed nature reserve. As I walk past it almost every day and am known to several of the twitchers and wardens I don’t challenge the byelaw by overflying.
Apparently even at 400 feet my Mavic Air will resemble a hawk and disturb the birds, hence no flying. Military helis (en route to the nearby army base) and the coastguard on SAR missions often overfly at rather lower than 400 feet and they are a little larger than my MA
Recently another flyer has been spotted within the reserve flying and hovering at low level and undoubtedly disturbing the wildlife as it very much resembles a hawk:
A rather fine kestrel - but I can’t fly my MA, it will disturb the birds!
Perhaps the answer is for us ALL to take up falconry … train them to fly low over all the dicks that tell us we can’t … with them all fitted with cameras, of course!
If this was the same scenario I would have no issue what so ever, I am a lover of nature and have been since a young age, I raise my kids to respect nature.
However with this particular blanket SSSI spanning a 23 mile stretch of coastline.
I wish I had this ammunition to hand during my “chat” with the nay sayers ! I completely forgot about it, even though I worked on the show 5 years running
Interesting response from Lancaster City Council today.
Hi Doug
The Council doesn’t have a policy as such yet, this is something we are working on. At the moment we look at requests on an ad-hoc basis, depending on what you would like to do.
We do insist you follow the Drone Code and Civil Aviation Authority CAP722 8th Edition and CAP1789 Issue 3 which identifies the Air rule, as you have stated you do. If you could provide us with information on what you are doing with the drone, we can then look at granting permission.
Kind regards
Stefanie Gray | Engagement and Development Officer
Directorate for Communities and the Environment | Lancaster City Council Public Realm, White Lund Depot, Westgate Road, Westgate, Morecambe, LA3 3DT Tel: 07946 020065 | Web: www.lancaster.gov.uk
Was expecting just follow the drone code response to put in my uav bag.
stating that their policy is clear! It’s far from clear 
