Bournemouth Council Land - geocaching

[stki40-50]

I have just come across this statement from Bournemouth Council on the internet and thought I would pass it on just in case it has been passed by:

Unfortunately, following several problems on Council land at a range of parks and nature reserves as a result of geocaching, this activity is not permitted on Council land. Problems have related to the digging up of ground by treasure hunters, concerns raised by local users and residents, and insurance issues, particularly the issue of who would be responsible should there be an accident involving the organiser/geocacher and/or the public.
For more information, please e-mail Bournemouth Parks, or phone 01202 451629

[Palujia]

Thanks for this, I have been tasked with reviewing our Landowner and permissions data base. I will look into this one as part of the review.

[Graculus]

Using the map on the council website I've created an overlay of ALL the parks which you can open in Google Maps. We reviewers will also use this overlay and will not publish any caches that are within any of the parks. Nature reserves are already on MAGIC so they get flagged up to us anyway. Although the council have said on their website it is a 'range' of parks but not said exactly which ones, I've drawn them all, from playgrounds and allotments to formal gardens. In the event they relent and say some caching is allowed I can easily delete parts of the overlay. Once a GLAD entry is done it can link to the overlay.

Link to Council map
Link to my overlay on Google Maps
Link to the council website page on geocaching

Chris
Graculus
Volunteer UK Reviewer for geocaching.com
UK Geocaching Information & Resources website www.follow-the-arrow.co.uk
Geocaching.com Knowledge Books

[Poole_Man]

Graculus you have a pm.

Thanks for your suggestions too.

Paul

[Happy Humphrey]

I hear that good news is imminent on this topic!

[Graculus]

Well, what is it or do have to start a guessing game?

Chris
Graculus
Volunteer UK Reviewer for geocaching.com
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[Sharon - Sharant]

Yes tell us if there is good news

[Happy Humphrey]

Hopefully my contact at Bournemouth BC won't mind me making this public. Geocaching is still officially banned (according to their website), despite my efforts.

But...I received this e-mail from them yesterday;

I can confirm we’ll shortly be changing our website to permit geocaching. We will send our rules and regs over to GAGB in the next few days and then alter our website.

I was assuming that GAGB were already in the know, but maybe not.
I don't know whether I deserve any credit for this (and I don't care one way or another). There may have been other negotiations going on.

[Maple Leaf]

I was assuming that GAGB were already in the know, but maybe not.

Not as far as I am aware - but excellent work if it is anything to do with your emails.

[Graculus]

You were lucky to get contact with them. I tried several emails all of which were ignored so I drew up the maps and left it at that.

Chris
Graculus
Volunteer UK Reviewer for geocaching.com
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[Happy Humphrey]

Initial correspondence was positive, and last June I sent them an e-mail detailing exactly the way to progress, including hints and tips. I also asked them to contact GAGB. So I hope that it was helpful: it doesn't seem to have done any damage, anyway!

[Bournemouth Cacher]

For those interested, I met with Bournemouth BC last Summer and it was agreed and promised to me that the ban will be lifted but needed time to come up with a policy which they would discuss with other councils. It was not at the time #1 priority for them however. It is good to hear they are finally putting their words into action. It is also good to see that at least one other is trying to pursue this too and is in the know. :cheers:

[Graculus]

When I worked with Gosport to overturn their ban and bring in an agreement I wrote an example one and sent it to them. It's what they subsequently used (with modifications). If anyone wants a copy of that as a starting point for Bournemouth just ask. Or go and look at Gosport's website.

Chris
Graculus
Volunteer UK Reviewer for geocaching.com
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[Graculus]

This is the word doc of the example agreement. Based on a default it includes quite a lot of info that may not actually be required in the final version. The last bit about the application forms refers to interactive forms I've created that people can fill in online and email in. Click here for the current ones so you can see what they are like.

Chris
Graculus
Volunteer UK Reviewer for geocaching.com
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[Maple Leaf]

The GAGB were contacted yesterday by a representative from Bournemouth Council with the new policy relating to Geocaching on Bournemouth Council owned land.

There are a few restrictions and we have passed the information to Graculus who is contacting them with regards to mapping and how to manage the restrictions.

We will be updating GLAD once we have all the information and new maps.

http://www.bournemouth.gov.uk/Leisur...eocaching.aspx

[Graculus]

No reply from the council to my email about maps (22nd July). On FB a couple of people have commented they've emailed the council too for permission and not had a reply. Oh well.

Anyhow... I've updated the Google map I originally drew of the council land from their online map. How accurate is it? The best I can do by hand. Does it show all their land? Hopefully it does - at least all the parks and gardens, cemeteries etc. It doesn't include nature reserves* as they are on the MAGIC map anyway.
*It does include Horseshoe Common where they have said no caching.

At the end of the day if someone disagrees with the map when trying to place a cache it's up to them to contact the council to prove the location is or isn't council land

UK Geocaching Wiki for Bournemouth BC.

Chris
Graculus
Volunteer UK Reviewer for geocaching.com
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Geocaching.com Help Center
UK Geocaching Information & Resources website

[Happy Humphrey]

After this positive result it might be worth editing the thread title.

As far as the "no reply" situation is concerned, it may be that the Council aren't aware of how geocachers tend to regard permission requests as "very urgent". I suspect that replies will be forthcoming, but considerable patience could be required.

The timescale of the change in policy suggests that it's not top of their priority list. But this is certainly progress, and they do seem to have looked into the matter quite carefully.

[Maple Leaf]

After this positive result it might be worth editing the thread title.

Good point - I've edited the title.