Ipswich’s new park laws have been approved after being unchanged for more than 40 years.

Councillor Lucy Trenchard, who is responsible for parks and climate change, proposed the first changes to the byelaws since 1983 during the borough’s full council meeting on Wednesday, July 17.

Byelaws are effectively local laws meant to deal with local issues using powers granted by Acts of Parliament — these changes relate only to pleasure grounds, public walks, and open spaces in Ipswich.

Cllr Lucy TrenchardCllr Lucy Trenchard (Image: Ipswich Borough Council)

Cllr Trenchard said: “The need to replace them was perceived as necessary to ensure the full range of activities and location are adequately regulated to ensure maximum protection of Ipswich’s most cherished assets into the future.

“Taking no action would leave many of these areas and activities unregulated.”

Some new rules are:

- No person would be able to displace or tamper with any life-saving appliance provided by the council except in the case of an emergency.

- People would not be allowed to engage in sports such as archery, javelin, or discus, unless part of a council event, or written council consent was provided.

- No person would be able to provide a service for which a charge was made without the consent of the council.

- No person would be allowed to use any device designed or adapted for metal or mineral detecting in the ground.

The new laws are meant to allow the council to deal with unacceptable behaviour, which can cause injury or distress, that is not addressed through existing legislation.

Councillors Ian Fisher and Tim Lockington asked the council to carry out adequate enforcement to ensure the new laws are effective.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Trenchard assured current enforcement was efficient and effective and encouraged residents to report any incident to the council, at which point an officer would be sent straight away.

She also mentioned the council’s use of CCTV to raise the vandalism of toilets in Whitehouse Park with the police.

The new laws will come into effect on August 17 – 30 days from the date the decision is made.