The fun police
Spoilsport park chiefs put up big sign to ban wading or swimming, even though pond has been removed
WITH summer on its way, a strict ban on fishing, paddling or swimming in a popular park was always going to anger some people.
But a huge sign erected by council officials forbidding such activities at Castlebank Park, Lanark, has left visitors perplexed – because the pond was removed long ago over health and safety worries.
The south Lanarkshire Council warning notice erected at the park entrance gives detailed instructions spread over nine pages on how to behave within its confines.
Banned activities include fishing without a permit, throwing sticks in the pond and even training race dogs.
The sign has been described as ‘beyond belief’ by the chairman of the town’s community council. But anyone who breaks the rules could face a year-long ban from the park.
Rule 7.1 states: ‘nobody is to wade, wash or swim in any pond, pool, fountain or water in a public park unless in a pond or pool provided by the council for that purpose.’
The list adds: ‘nobody is to sail any motorised or radio-controlled boats on any pond, pool or water in a public park without the permission of the executive director. This permission must be in writing and obtained prior to sailing any such boat.’
Rule 7.4 says: ‘nobody is to throw or put sticks, stones or objects of any kind in any pond, pool, fountain or water.’
one of the pages details the consequences of not obeying the rules. It warns: ‘Any person who has broken or is about to break one or more of these rules may be expelled from a public park.’
It continues: ‘If the council believes that a person who has persistently broken or attempted to break these rules is likely to do so again, they may face an exclusion order… The person may not be allowed to enter the public park for up to one year.’
Frank Gunning, chairman of the Royal Burgh of Lanark Community Council, said: ‘It is taking officialdom a bit too far.
‘It all boils down to common sense. When it comes to health and safety they go slightly berserk.’
he continued: ‘There isn’t a pond. There once was a wee pond which was only 12 inches deep but that was done away with many years ago on health and
‘Taking officialdom a bit too far’
safety grounds and concern that some child might fall in.
‘The local development trust has recently tried to make a Japanese water garden out of it in efforts to tidy up the park, but we weren’t allowed to do that either because it was a health and safety issue, so now it is going to be what I think is called a bog garden.’
he added: ‘It’s the craziness of bureaucracy. At this time of austerity and cuts it could quite easily have been done away with because it serves no useful purpose whatsoever. Putting up such a notice is beyond belief.’ But a south Lanarkshire Council spokesman said the same rules apply across all public parks and more signs have been installed at other locations.
head of facilities, waste and grounds services stephen Kelly said: ‘signage was recently installed in Castlebank Park listing our management rules for public parks as part of our Green Flag bid.
‘This has similarly taken place at both Cambuslang Park and strathaven Park which have successfully achieved the Green Flag Award.’