The use of the Stray is governed by the Stray Act 1985 and subsequent byelaws. The byelaws are interesting (no, really) because of the number of activities that are prohibited. So:
"A person shall not on the Stray light any fire or place
or throw or let fall a lighted match or any other thing so as to be likely to
cause a fire".
Lots of those portable barbecues used on the Stray - one evening last week there were three in a small area on the West Park Stray - and then left by the bins for disposal.
"A person shall not exercise or ride any horse on the Stray except on any area which has, by notices conspicuously displayed, been designated by the Council as an area where horse riding is permitted, or on a bridleway"
People ride their horses, regularly, on the grass along the side of Slingsby Walk, and other places.
"No persons shall ride any bicycle or tricycle over or across any part of the Stray except -
Lots of those portable barbecues used on the Stray - one evening last week there were three in a small area on the West Park Stray - and then left by the bins for disposal.
"A person shall not exercise or ride any horse on the Stray except on any area which has, by notices conspicuously displayed, been designated by the Council as an area where horse riding is permitted, or on a bridleway"
People ride their horses, regularly, on the grass along the side of Slingsby Walk, and other places.
"No persons shall ride any bicycle or tricycle over or across any part of the Stray except -
- on a part of the Stray laid out as a carriageway
- on a path identified as for use by cyclists and pedestrians on the annexed plan" [available from the HBC website]
People ride bicycles on virtually all parts of the Stray, including the grass
"No person on the Stray shall release any jet-propelled model aircraft for flight or control the flight of such an aircraft"
Drones?
"A person shall not on the Stray operate or cause or permit to be operated any wireless set, gramophone (!) or amplifier, tape recorder or similar instrument so as to make or cause or permit to be made any noise which is so loud .... as to give reasonable cause for annoyance to other persons using the Stray".
A gramophone on the Stray sounds rather charming ....
The point is that these things happen all the time, and maybe they don't really matter. On the other hand, the fact that blind eyes are turned so regularly could easily be the thin end of various wedges.
There may be different views on this. It would be interesting to know.
No prizes for knowing where the quotation in the title comes from.
Toni, Do you think it is a case of "a blind eye"being taken or the fact that very few people actually know what can and cannot be done under the Stray Act 1985? I believe very few people know there are any restrictions and as no one actually enforces them then no one learns. Maybe it is time for the Stray Act 1985 to be reviewed and amended to reflect the 21st Century, the visions of the "Town Plan" and the needs of the people who want to use the Stray?
ReplyDeleteI think it's really not easy to find out what is and isn't permitted on the Stray. Most people are not going to check the local authority website before they go out for an afternoon. I think you're right, that the byelaws should be brought up to date, and I suspect there's no need for the 1985 Act to be amended because it's fairly general, actually quite reasonable and not too prescriptive.
DeleteAnd of course the needs and views of the people who use the Stray should inform any amendment.