Park Rules and Regulations

https://theovalbandstand.co.uk/compliments-complaints

Motorised vehicles of any description, including cars, vans, and motorbikes, are not allowed anywhere within the venue unless the owner has received written permission from the Venue Manager. If you do not have written permission to drive at The Oval, your insurance will be invalid, and you will be held personally liable for any injury caused.

Cycling has become increasingly popular in the UK in recent years, and this is reflected in the thousands of journeys made each day by cyclists in Thanet.

There is extensive cycling infrastructure across Thanet and a network of permitted cycle paths and roadways.  This includes many miles of cycle paths within the coastal park where cycling is permitted.  Cycle parking is provided within The Oval at the ramp into the amphitheatre.

While cyclists are very welcome pedestrians have priority within The Oval as they make up the majority of visitors. To ensure a harmonious balance between all our visitors and protect The Oval’s environments cyclists are required to stick to designated cycle paths.  It is recommended that cyclists keep below 10mph to ensure the safety of pedestrians.

The Oval continues to explore ways in which it can enhance the experience of cyclists at the venue in a way that balances their needs and those of other visitors.

The Oval supports the use of sustainable transport modes for those who travel to our venue.

However, The Oval’s open spaces are principally places for quiet recreation where pedestrians have priority.  We believe that the speed and stealth of Personal Electric Vehicles (PEV’s), including e-scooters, presents an unacceptable risk to pedestrians, particularly those with mobility challenges, or with a visual or hearing impairment.  Allowing PEV’s to operate at The Oval could therefore discourage those who wish to walk to and through the site and undermine the peace and ambience of the green spaces.

The Oval does not, and has no plans to, permit the use of PEV’s on the land it manages.

This guidance is for individuals and groups exercising at The Oval. If you run commercial fitness sessions; either group or individual, you need to be licenced. More information can be found on our website:

https://theovalbandstand.co.uk/fitness-wellness-operator-licences

The purpose of the exercise code of conduct is to:

• Encourage responsible use of The Oval for exercise.
• Avoid conflict between those undertaking fitness activities The Oval and other users.
• Protect The Oval and ensure use and access is preserved for all our visitors.

Rules and guidance:

• The Oval is not a gym. Please do not use any park structures including trees, benches, railings, the bandstand, tables, lamp posts or monuments for training purposes.
• Avoid areas of high pedestrian activity and walk, don’t run, on busy paths and pinch points such as gates and steps.
• Do not bring large items of fitness equipment to The Oval – keep it to handheld sized equipment e.g., yoga mats, kettle bells or resistance bands. Please do not attach resistance bands to any structures, including trees or benches.
• Be considerate to other users.

To keep everybody safe and happy, please don’t:

• Play amplified music i.e., through a phone or speaker.
• Exercise in any formal garden areas and other sensitive locations such as playgrounds, water features, flowerbeds, deckchair areas, long grass, meadow land, conservations areas, areas near to wildlife, or areas closed off for renovations.

Fix anything to trees, lamp posts, benches, railings, or any other structures.

Dogs are welcome at The Oval although there are some places where they are not allowed or must be kept on a lead:

• Dogs are not allowed into the Wellness Garden under any circumstances.
• Dogs MUST always be kept on a lead in the bandstand amphitheatre.

When walking your dog at The Oval please respect the wildlife as well as the other users by keeping your dog under control. If your dog is not trained for recall, they MUST be kept on a lead.

The Oval is for everyone to enjoy. Dog waste left at the venue is unpleasant for other park users, unhygienic and causes serious ecological damage to plant and animal communities. It is an offence under PSPO regulations to fail to clean up after your dog. Dog waste should be placed in a tightly sealed bag and taken home or deposited in the bins marked for dog waste. Anyone failing to clean up after their dog may face a fine and possibly prosecution.

Please consider that other park users may not be fond of dogs, and that some people – especially small children – can find dogs intimidating. Your dog should be kept in sight and under control at all times. Unruly and noisy dogs can cause disturbance to other users.

Please consider the following:

• It is your responsibility to keep your dog under control and to clean up after it, you are breaking the law if you do not do so.
• Keep your dog in sight.
• Keep the lead handy, you may need it.
• Respect the dog-free and dogs-on-leads areas.
• Respect other users and the wildlife.

It can be difficult to control a large number of dogs, so as a rule of thumb no-one should be in charge of more than four dogs at any one time.

We hope you and your dog(s) enjoy The Oval. Thank you for your help in protecting our wildlife and ensuring our community events venue is a safe and pleasant environment for all users.

We welcome informal picnics at The Oval.  However, please be aware that the lawns can get very busy during the summer, which limits available space.  The lawns are used by many people for different reasons, and we are unable to allow any one group exclusive rights to an area.  The lawns are also home to a rich variety of wildlife.  We therefore ask you to follow these simple guidelines when picnicking in The Oval.

It’s always a good idea to check our website to see what other events are happening at The Oval.  The Oval has a map which is available to download from our website and can help you find an area to meet.

The maximum informal group size permitted at The Oval is 12 people.

If you are holding an organised event for gatherings larger than the maximum group size, please contact the Venue Manager to discuss your requirements.  Contact details, along with the facilities provided, can be found at:

https://theovalbandstand.co.uk/venue-hire

If you intend to use a commercial photographer, whatever the size of the gathering, they will require a license:

https://theovalbandstand.co.uk/film-photography-permissions

To ensure everyone enjoys The Oval fully, we ask that you refrain from the following:

• Collecting or soliciting money – If yours is a charity picnic, any collections must take place outside of The Oval.
• Corporate advertising and distribution of leaflets – If yours is an informal staff picnic you will not be permitted to display any corporate banners or distribute promotional material.
• Barbecues, or any form of cooking at the Oval – As well as being a fire hazard, abandoned barbecues can be a hazard to other visitors and to wildlife.
• Playing ball games – Ball games are only permitted on certain areas of the lawns. If you want to play ball games, please check the notice board for information.
• Playing music – Please be considerate to others.
• Fixing anything to trees or driving anything into the ground.
• Erecting tents, marquees, or other structures, or any equipment that is likely to obstruct other users.
• Glass – The Oval is a glass-free venue, please ensure that you use recyclable plastic or paper cups and bottles. Broken glass is a hazard to other visitors and wildlife and is very difficult to remove from parkland.
• Balloons – Please remember to be careful when bringing balloons into the park, as when released they get caught up in the trees and are hard to remove. They can also be a hazard to the wildlife in the park.  Balloon releases are not permitted for these reasons.

We have no objection to consumption of alcoholic drinks on the lawns, but they must be available free of charge (i.e., not for sale), and for consumption by your guests only.  And of course, alcohol must not be supplied to persons under the age of 18. The Oval Bandstand & lawns is a fully licensed area, and is also in a PSPO area, and is subject to various rules and regulations around the consumption of alcohol.

Please remember, before you leave The Oval, to collect all your litter to take home with you and recycle where possible.

Please do not leave any items unattended at any time, both to protect your items from theft and to preventthem causing a possible security alert.

Above all, please be considerate so other people can enjoy The Oval too.

The Oval does not allow any unauthorised assemblies, demonstrations, rallies, or marches anywhere within the grounds of the venue.

To protect the environment, we ask that people refrain from releasing balloons and sky lanterns at The Oval. Whilst releasing these into the atmosphere is a popular activity, many people are unaware of the negative effects balloons and sky lanterns can have on the natural environment and wildlife.

Balloons can get caught in trees and shrubs, potentially hampering growth.  Removing them from trees and from the rest of the coastal park can also be costly.

Balloons can also be a danger to wildlife that is commonly attracted to the bright colours of balloons.  Birds and other animals have on occasion consumed deflated balloons, causing injury and even death.

Sky lanterns can cause fires, as they use an open flame to float. This could destroy habitats and set animal housing, feed and bedding alight.

For these reasons, the releasing of balloons and lanterns is not permitted at The Oval.

The release of wildlife at the Oval is not permitted.  Releasing wildlife is not only cruel but it could be considered an offence under the 1969 Abandonment of Animals Act.

We hope that you will assist The Oval’s staff in keeping the venue beautiful and protecting our wildlife by complying with this policy.

This policy concerns skating on roller blades, roller skates, freeline skates, roller-skis, skateboards, waveboards and non-motorised scooters.

The Oval is managed for the enjoyment of the public, balancing the interests of our visitors, wildlife, the historic environment, and conservation.  As pedestrians comprise the majority of visitors and include potentially vulnerable groups, such as small children and the elderly, they have priority in the open spaces.  The Oval seeks, however, to cater for a wide range of other recreational activities in a way that does not interfere with the safety, comfort, and convenience of other users.

Skating is a popular activity that appeals to a wide range of people.  The Oval seeks to provide opportunities for skating at The Oval for the enjoyment of skaters and without adverse impact on other users and the environment.

Unfortunately, due to health & safety concerns, we are unable to allow skating of any kind within the bandstand amphitheatre, however we do allow skating on pathways through the lawns

Skaters using The Oval lawns should:

• only skate on the pathway, unless this is restricted by a park notice, and in any other area where permitted.
• not skate in a manner that endangers, or is likely to endanger, any person.
• comply with any direction for the control of skating that is given either by a representative of The Oval, or by notice.
• not intentionally or recklessly interfere with the safety, comfort, or convenience of any person using the venue.
• not skate at The Oval during an organised event.
• stay alert and be aware of obstacles or uneven surfaces.
• be courteous and give way to pedestrians and animals.
• not exceed the 10mph speed limit and adjust speed/skating style to the conditions.
• be aware of the surroundings, including other park visitors and vehicles.
• ensure they can hear what is going on around them and be mindful that some visitors may have a visual or hearing impairment.
• keep visible and consider appropriate safety equipment.
• be cautious and not endanger themselves or pedestrians.
• be aware that there may be service vehicles in operation.
• indicate clearly and in good time when turning or changing direction,
• not perform jumps, tricks, dance steps or spins if there are pedestrians, vehicles, or obstacles nearby.
• not set up slalom obstacles if they obstruct or otherwise interfere with free passage on any path.
• not accompany skating with music that will be audible to other visitors.
• not leave belongings unattended – they may get stolen or be removed as a security risk.

The Oval amphitheatre, including all buildings and substantially enclosed structures, are smoke-free areas, this includes the use of E-cigarettes, vaping products, and shisha.

The Health Act requires enclosed or substantially enclosed parts of premises that are public places or workplaces to be smoke-free.  The Health Act does include powers to make non-enclosed places smoke-free if there is a significant risk that people there might be exposed to significant quantities of smoke.

There are no plans to make the lawns at The Oval smoke-free at the present time.

Unmanned Aerial System’s (UAS) are known by a variety of names, perhaps the most familiar of which are remote controlled aircraft or drones.  Their key characteristics are that they are unmanned; they fly; and they are operated remotely.  Some have cameras or other means of collecting information.

Aviation law requires a UAS to always be seen by the operator, remain below 400 ft (under 300ft beneath helicopter routes in London) and stay at least 50m from people, vehicles, and structures.

If a system has a camera or is equipped to record data, it is an offence when without permission from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) a UAS is operated:

• Over or within 150 metres of any congested area or organised open assembly of more than 1000 persons.
• Within 50 metres of any vessel, vehicle, person, or structure not under the control of the person in charge of the aircraft.
• During take-off or landing to be within 30 metres of any person unless they are under the control of the operator.

If a system that has the capability to acquire data and is to be used for commercial gain, CAA permission is required.  It does not matter on the size of the system.

The Oval recognises the growing popularity of recreational UAS.  However, their use can have a negative impact on wildlife and interfere with the safety and comfort of other visitors.  There is evidence of such devices causing alarm to animals by flying too closely.

In some circumstances The Oval may give written permission for drone use for commercial or news gathering purposes.  This is to minimise the use of noisy helicopters which have traditionally been used for such image capturing.

Permission may be granted subject to operators abiding by the law and The Oval’s terms and conditions.  The Oval will only give permission where it does not unreasonably impact on the comfort, safety and convenience of other users, wildlife and environment.  Security implications will also be considered.

All applications for commercial filming requests will be considered by The Oval by completing the online form:

https://theovalbandstand.co.uk/film-photography-permissions

If your request is for news gathering purposes, please contact us via our website:

https://theovalbandstand.co.uk/contact

Please allow enough time for your request to be considered by the filming team, allowing a minimum of 10 working days to consider your application.  We cannot guarantee permission given the limited locations considered suitable for drone use.

We do allow kite flying at The Oval, however there are some basic rules that must be followed:

• Don’t fly your kite more than 60 metres off the ground.
• Don’t fly your kite in stormy weather.
• Don’t fly your kite near power lines or roads.
• Don’t fly near animals as they tend to get scared and can react badly.
• Don’t fly over people.
• Don’t fly your kite near decorative bunting or festoon lighting as any damage must be paid for.

If a representative of The Oval asks you to stop flying your kite, please respect the request as it will undoubtedly be for your own, or others, safety.

The Oval does not permit collective acts of worship or other religious observances, or gatherings of a political nature, at the venue, either in their own right or as part of a demonstration, event, or other activity. This includes spoken or sung communal prayers or other events that are primarily religious or political in focus.

As a Community Interest Company (CIC), it is not the place of The Oval to make value judgments between one religious or political observance and another. We must either permit all collective religious or political observances or refuse them all. Our approach is to continue to refuse all such observances on the grounds that they are not traditional park-related activities and the disadvantages to the public at large of allowing them would almost certainly outweigh the benefits to adherents of a particular religion or political belief. The policy extends to the construction of structures within the venue with a religious or political significance.

Cultural events that do not include collective religious or political activity are permitted subject to the standard approval process.

Occasionally people whose relatives have enjoyed visiting The Oval ask if their ashes can be scattered at the venue after their deaths.

These ashes contain minerals in such concentrations that they affect the soil and the plants that grow in the soil.  This in turn can affect the wildlife that relies on the plants for food and shelter.

We understand why people wish to scatter ashes; unfortunately, this can damage the places that were so enjoyed.  For relatives who wish to maintain a connection with the venue, The Oval offers several schemes that can be dedicated to the memory of a loved one, but also help to conserve the venue.  For more information, please visit:

https://theovalbandstand.co.uk/support-us

There is a presumption against any memorials at The Oval, other than in the most exceptional circumstances. Any we might consider would have to be world class statues and would have to meet the following criteria.

• The subject would have to be of historical importance; that is, it commemorates an event or a person whose contribution is substantial and of genuine importance.
• As celebrity becomes ubiquitous, it is important that the subject being commemorated should stand the test of time and consideration will not be given to a request until at least two years has elapsed since the event being commemorated.
• The subject has a direct and demonstrable connection with the proposed location i.e., the event should have taken place there, or there is documented evidence that the location played a significant part in the life of the person or the event it commemorates. (For instance, it would not be enough to show that the person concerned used to walk at The Oval).

An important consideration of any memorial it is the form it takes. For instance, a traditional statue or monument may not be the most appropriate design for the location in question and sponsors should be prepared to consider alternative solutions.

To justify a place at The Oval, any such memorial would have to be constructed to the highest possible aesthetic and technical standards, using the best materials. The memorial’s sponsors will have to agree the form of the memorial with The Oval before submitting it to the local authority for planning permission.

Sponsors frequently underestimate the cost of designing and building their memorial, leaving the projects compromised and causing additional expenditure. Agreement in principle will therefore only be granted once the sponsor has agreed to

• meet the full cost of designing and constructing the memorial, and of landscaping or reinstating surrounding areas that may be necessary because of building the memorial.
• provide detailed and costed plans for building the memorial.
• provide evidence that they have adequate funding available to pay for the work, (including sufficient funds to set up an endowment to pay for future maintenance of the memorial).
• indemnify The Oval (e.g., by an appropriate insurance policy) against any costs arising from any failure on their part to complete the project, for whatever reason.

Agreement will not be given for work to commence until The Oval is satisfied with the arrangements for carrying out the project.