Council permission

[Sharkeysend]

Just thought I'd share with you the comedy answer I got back from my local council when I queried on what their position is in terms of metal detecting:

Thank you for your email. I have spoken to the head of service and he has advised your more than welcome to use your metal detector on council land however he has advised you cannot dig on the land.

... quality 

[oscar6972]

Ha ha, that's the same reply I got from Hull City Council mate! Are we on the same area by any chance?

[Sharkeysend]

Fenland District Council here bud, I guess a lot of them have the same type of folks running them 

[13oots2]

Same down here with West Dorset District

[redkite]

Same in East Devon

[nailman]

Same in Yorkshire you can detect but not dig

[oscar6972]

Having said that I took Ruby on our local playing field after the Sunday footballers had been on and she ended up with a few quid in change dropped from pockets with no digging needed, just a rummage in the grass near the halfway lines where they'd congregated at half and full time and jobs a good un!

[Sharkeysend]

Stand back in amazement though folks - I followed up the initial query with the council, pointing out the government guidelines and whey hey:

Thank you for your further email which I have discussed with our Head of Leisure.  I am pleased to say that your approach with a small dig and replace is acceptable but I have just been asked to point out that please could you not dig on any sports pitches though.  As you say, many people would not even ask and your request is much appreciated.  I hope you have some interesting finds.

Huzzah! 

[Flatlander]

That's good news, if I try do you think they might start to think they have opened the flood gates, we live under the same council, Fenland.

[Mutt]

Stand back in amazement though folks - I followed up the initial query with the council, pointing out the government guidelines and whey hey:

Thank you for your further email which I have discussed with our Head of Leisure.  I am pleased to say that your approach with a small dig and replace is acceptable but I have just been asked to point out that please could you not dig on any sports pitches though.  As you say, many people would not even ask and your request is much appreciated.  I hope you have some interesting finds.

Huzzah! 

Out of interest what are the Goverment Guidelines?

[Sharkeysend]

Well, I found this link on a different forum when looking for a thread on council permissions (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/49837/Model_Set_2_Guidance_notes.pdf).

It reads:

Metal detectors

31. Local authorities may introduce byelaws to prohibit or restrict the use of metal detectors
in pleasure grounds. Byelaws to prohibit the use of metal detectors may be appropriate in
grounds requiring special protection, for example areas consisting of closely mown and
carefully cultivated turf and flower beds or sites of archaeological botanical or scientific
interest or areas much used by blind or disabled persons. However, a byelaw which
prohibits the use of metal detectors in areas not in need of special protection or from all the
grounds in a particular area may be seen as over-restrictive and unreasonable. The model
byelaw can be adapted to provide for partial bans as necessary.

32. Where a local authority wishes to introduce a byelaw to restrict or prohibit the use of
metal detectors in any ground, we consider that it should first consult any local metal
detector clubs or a national body representing metal detector users, such as the National
Council for Metal Detecting, 51 Hilltop Gardens, Denaby, Doncaster, DN12 4SA (website
address: www.nmcd.co.uk, telephone number: 01709 868521; e-mail:
trevor.austin@ncmd.co.uk). The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Buildings,
Monuments and Sites Division, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH (Dr Roger Bland
Tel 020 7211 2011 should also be consulted.

Whether my local council actually read it I'll never know but I thought it added something to my email in way of giving them some suggestive guidance and also backing up the relevance of the NCMD. It can't hurt to sound as informed and up on the subject you're asking about I guess.

[Mutt]

Thanks for that, very interesting. 

[Peter]

Funnily enough, what is "Council Land"    Councils are a group of people(public) voted in by the people(Public) ,to run the comings and goings of a PUBLIC  place .  The parkland belongs to the public(People) if its council owned. You are the public , so think on that angle . You, if detecting responsibly ,will do no more harm than moles do to Public Park` s.  Golfers on Public Golf courses very often swipe the ball and miss time the shot ,and cut a big slice out the turf on driving the ball.Often young kids tear the turf up with their Push bikes  Is detecting any doing any worse ,if a responsible detectorist cuts the turf  and then replaces it  correctly ,to either of those moles,kids, or Golfers who get away with it ? 

[Keith67]

Funnily enough, what is "Council Land"    Councils are a group of people(public) voted in by the people(Public) ,to run the comings and goings of a PUBLIC  place .  The parkland belongs to the public(People) if its council owned. You are the public , so think on that angle . You, if detecting responsibly ,will do no more harm than moles do to Public Park` s.  Golfers on Public Golf courses very often swipe the ball and miss time the shot ,and cut a big slice out the turf on driving the ball.Often young kids tear the turf up with their Push bikes  Is detecting any doing any worse ,if a responsible detectorist cuts the turf  and then replaces it  correctly ,to either of those moles,kids, or Golfers who get away with it ?

I have to disagree here and I think we should be careful what we wish for.   Damage from golfers happens on a golf course, usually private, and with paid employees to repair and restore, so this is a managed element of the sport. Push bikes only ruffle the surface when it's soft and this tends to naturally drop back fairly soon. Moles are part of nature and are viewed very differently to people digging holes in places where people want to walk their dogs or take the kids etc.

I worry that if we find ways to dig on council land we will encourage all manner of people to get their hands on cheap detectors and start hacking up loads of areas.  Once we are visible in urban areas we can't control who decides to "have a crack at it" It's hard enough to get everyone to fill their holes on an organised dig, so imagine what will happen when people with no idea start jollying about with a spade leaving big ugly holes everywhere and don't give a monkeys.  People will look down on the hobby and we could all be tarred with the same brush. How long before the local rags have stories of injured walkers falling down "treasure hunters" holes and completely blow things out of proportion, do you really think they would be balanced and honest??

Worst case scenario the heightened public awareness of detecting and bad press means the Gov talks of banning detecting as a loony government reaction to gain voters, it's an easy win.  Or the councils reverse the decision, but the yobs stick 2 fingers up and carry on, and we all get labelled law breaking vandals.  Part of what protects our hobby is the need to make an effort to do it and not many people consider it. I am not sure I want to advertise the fun and enjoyment of detecting to some of the people on the housing estates where I live !  ("oh no, what have I done")

It's frustrating when you don't have places to go, and a consenting council may sound like a dream, but be careful what you wish for. Yes, I would be pleased if Beds Council let me detect, but I would be bloody careful where I went and who saw me.

[Peter]

Yes ,some valid points taken Keith. However human behaviour is very unpredictable in all forms of walks of life.
We would certainly, in a "perfect world" wish people could hold their drink when out simply socialising, but many often "normal " people turn into vicious drunks when they drink too much while out socialising . Should the answer then be ,putting a draconian total ban drinking or  socialising ,to counter anything such of that antisocial behavior ever happening in the future  ??.
They banned smoking in public places a few years ago . While it solved the smoking in public places issue  ,it also killed off thousands of peoples livelyhood s because look at how many pubs have had to close down now in the UK through people not going to pubs now, because they cannot have a smoke with their Pint ? There are only so many "rules and regulations" you can apply before it turns to oppression .
By one or more  councils giving permission it just goes to show that not every council sees itself as judge & jury against certain hobbies which incidentally is not what they are put in place to decide in a public place, if in general ,any hobby is causing little or no harm to anyone else, and as far as Metal detecting being banned,they have tried to ban metal detecting since 1977 and STILL havn`t achieved banning it.Metal detecting is no different to any other hobby insofar as if people that do the hobby act in a responsible and well being manner ,they will be no problem in allowing it in a public place such as a Public park.
  anyway are you  really suggesting that any " Government " ,would consider backing a ban on metal detecting just to gain support for them in an election They`d have to be pretty desperate measures, to have to go down that route if they did.