Speeton Coastal flying SGCSC and RSPB

[Graeme]

See below the latest email from SGCSC about flying the coast from speeton to Filey on the NYs coast.

Does the nhpc have any experience in this respect we can offer them as support?


Hi Fliers…

Here’s the latest on paragliding at Speeton on the East Yorkshire coast:

Notice to all SGCSC flying members,
also sent to Derbyshire Soaring Club, North Yorks Sailwing Club, Dales and Cumbria Clubs…

We have had two meetings with the RSPB at Bempton. Our intention has been to make Speeton an ‘official’ SGCSC Site and establish a voluntary code of conduct so that we can continue to fly that part of the coast whilst ensuring no disturbance to the nesting seabirds in the SPA. Unfortunately that has NOT happened (yet).

The meetings were overshadowed by the implied threat to us, reinforced by the presence of the police, of prosecutions for intentionally and illegally disturbing nesting birds in an SPA on 18th April.
(NB Since the SPA is being extended all the way from Flamborough to Filey Brig, the outcome of this could seriously impact on our future flying along a large section of the coast.)

The RSPB’s Inspector has said that on 18th April he saw our flying activity frightening nesting birds so that they left their nests in large numbers and rafted out at sea. He said they would not return to their nests until after we’d gone and that as a direct consequence of our actions upwards of 4000 nests would die. He says he has photographic and video evidence which proves this (but has declined to show it to us).

Our reaction has been to maintain that in general birds are not disturbed by paragliders, but we did concede that some of our flying in front of the cliffs on that (exceptionally busy) day, especially when close in and including acrobatics, may sometimes have had a disturbing effect on the nesting birds. (There is in fact a lack of firm data about the effect paragliding may or may not have on birds.) We offered to help with studies of birds from the air (eg by taking observers on tandem rides). We also offered a set of Site Rules intended to ensure birds would not be open to any potential disturbance by us, as a basis for a voluntary agreement.

The RSPB’s Inspector responded by referring the case to the Enforcement Panel of Natural England (the body with overall statutory responsibility). We pointed out that surely a voluntary agreement would be preferable to an uncontrolled free-for-all, but until the Enforcement Panel has considered the evidence there will be no further discussion and no agreement.

I believe (and hope!) that there is little prospect of us actually being prosecuted, and there still seems to be a desire on both sides for a mutually acceptable and workable voluntary agreement. Unfortunately of course, this will take time: how long nobody knows. But the RSPB does appreciate and welcome the fact that SGCSC’s request to pilots to not fly Speeton (which went out shortly after 18th April) has been observed up to now.

Until the matter is resolved we agreed to ask you to continue to not fly Speeton.

The above is a brief summary of what’s gone on - there will be more discussion no doubt at our SGCSC meeting next Wednesday, and if anybody has any further evidence of the effect of paragliders on birds, I’d be pleased to hear it. I’ll let you know if and when there’s any progress. Many thanks.

Tony Dew
Chairman, SGCSC

anthonyedew@gmail.com