BLACKROD Town Council will ask for a borough-wide ban on flying drones over children play areas and schools.

The proposal came from Cllr Graham Farrington in a town council meeting on Monday September 3.

The longest-serving councillor in Blackrod said that it is not “right and proper” for drones to fly over areas where young children play.

He said: “It’s not the place to fly a drone on a children’s play area and it should not be allowed to happen.”

The town’s Mayor Cllr Scott Batchelor said that although there are national restrictions on flying drones in place, Bolton Council does not have a policy of its own.

In July, a number of measures taken from the Civil Aviation Authority’s Drone Code were written into law and now anyone who breaches these rules could face a fine of up to £2,500 or up to five years in prison.

The new rules include a ban on flying drones above 400 feet, within a kilometre of airport boundaries and over open areas with more than 1,000 people present.

They also say that recreational drone users must adhere to local councils’ rules about drone flights in the area.

In addition, from November 2019, drone owners will have to register all drones that weigh 250g or more and take an online safety test.

However, town councillors in Blackrod were still concerned about drones being allowed to fly near to children, especially if they are equipped with cameras.

Cllr Michael Hollick said: “If they have got a camera with children they shouldn’t be doing it anyway.”

Since the new drone laws came into effect, recreational drone users are required to keep 500 feet away from crowds and built up areas if their drones are equipped with a camera.

Blackrod Town Council will now ask Horwich and Blackrod ward councillors to submit a motion to Bolton Council to ban drones flying over children’s play areas including school playgrounds.