Our policy on drone usage

The Council does not permit the use of UAV and drones flown from or above Council land without permission granted by Colchester Borough Council. Permission will only be granted, where usage of UAV or drone device aids risk reduction in the workplace such as working at height, land and building survey work and / or undertaking professional services such as festivals, archaeological survey, events media, etc, and then subject to conditions.

The reasons for this policy for recreational or commercial requests is:

• The proximity of many of our parks and open spaces or other council owned land to neighbouring residential and business properties and the potential risk of causing disturbance, annoyance or harassment to occupants and the users.
• Potential risk of accident, injury to visitors and site users to parks and green spaces or council property as a result of user or drone error.
• Granting permission could leave the council liable for subsequent actions brought about by drone activity when operated from land in the council’s ownership
• Potential risk of causing alarm, distress or harassment to the wildlife and biodiversity within the council’s parks and green spaces.
• Civil Aviation Authority guidance specifying that drones must not be flown within 50m from people, vehicles and buildings and/or over congested areas.