New Byelaws for Abinger Parish - Important Notice

ABINGER PARISH COUNCIL

CONSULATION ON PROPOSED NEW BYELAWS FOR THE VILLAGE GREENS AT ABINGER COMMON; ABINGER HAMMER and FOREST GREEN

The use of the village greens at Abinger Common; Abinger Hammer and Forest Green is governed by byelaws made by Abinger Parish Council in 1962. The Parish Council is of the opinion that these byelaws no longer meet in important respects the needs of today, and therefore proposes to make new byelaws based on the current model byelaws issued by the Department of Communities and Local Government.

The proposed new byelaws seek to ensure that the greens can be used by the public for recreation and other purposes, with an appropriate balance between different categories of users and with appropriate protection of the greens and their wildlife; the proposed byelaws also seek to recognise the special nature of the greens as registered village greens, and use of the greens must not cause danger or give reasonable grounds for annoyance to others, or cause damage to trees and other plants or to existing structures.

In summary, the proposed byelaws protect existing structures and plants, and prohibit new structures, including tents, gazebos and signs. Wildlife is protected and camping and fires (including barbecues) are not allowed. Horses may be ridden only on Forest Green, and cycles and motor vehicles are allowed only where there is a right of way. Children’s play areas are limited to children under 14 and adults in charge of them. Reasonable ball games are allowed, and cricket with a hard ball may only be played on the cricket pitches at Abinger Hammer and Forest Green. There are general prohibitions of archery, field sports and golf; of boats on any ponds or streams; of swimming and fishing; of model aircraft (including drones); and of metal detecting. Commercial activities and public entertainments are only allowed with the consent of the Parish Council.

The Parish Council wishes to hear the views of those who may be affected by the new byelaws, whether living in the Parish or not. The Parish Council will take into account all responses received by the 1st March 2017 before submitting the byelaws to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for approval. A draft of the proposed new byelaws is available on the Parish Council’s website www.abinger-pc.gov.uk/. Comments should be sent by email or by post to the Clerk to the Council whose contact details are:

Clerk to Abinger Parish Council, Rose Cottage, 11 Cotmandene, Dorking , Surrey RH4 2BL

Email - [email protected]

Abinger Parish Council

1st February 2017

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