Thefield Heath Common, Kite Festival Event Application Notice.

THEFIELD HEATH COMMON

Martin Berry on behalf of the Rotary Club of Royston has applied to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for consent under section 38 of the Commons Act 2006 to carry out restricted works on Thefield Heath Common. The Planning Inspectorate will decide the application on behalf of the Secretary of State. The proposed works are: A Kite Festival to be held on Sunday 4th August 2024.

This will be the 30th such Kite Festival to be held in a field of approx. 15,000 sqm (or 1% of the Heath) located on the northern boundary of the heath opposite Ivy Lane and Rosecomb. Within this field we will create an arena for our kite flying displays using stakes connected by tape.

Also within this field, and around the arena, we will erect two marquees and up to 75 gazebos which will mostly be used by local charities and associations. We will also provide up to 20 portable toilets (inc. two for disabled use) and a skip for rubbish. There will also be a funfair at one end of the field. The marquees, toilets and the skip may be installed before the event - possibly as early as Friday 2nd August 2024 and the site will be fully cleared and restored by Monday 5th August 2024.

A temporary car park (approx 16,000 sqm) will be created for the event in an adjacent field on the Heath. This car park will be used from 10:00 - 17:00 on Sunday 4th August 2024. The grass in these two areas will be cut as necessary during the months before the event to provide a suitable surface for kite flying and car parking respectively and to discourage ground nesting birds on an area of SSSI.

A copy of the application form and accompanying documents can be inspected at The Heath Cafe, Baldock Rd, Royston SG8 5BG and Royston Library, Market Hill, Royston SG8 9JN during normal office hours until 31/12/23.

A copy of the application form and accompanying documents may be obtained from Martin Berry, 21a Whitecroft Road, Meldreth, Royston SG8 6ND; kites@roystonrotary.com and the Royston Rotary Website (www.roystonrotary.com). Any representations should be sent in writing ON or BEFORE 31/12/23 to The Planning Inspectorate, Commons Team at 3A Temple Quay House, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN or commonlandcasework@planninginspectorate.gov.uk. Representations sent to The Planning Inspectorate cannot be treated as confidential. They will be copied to the applicant and possibly to other interested parties. To find out more about how the Planning Inspectorate uses and manages personal data, please go to their privacy notice. Martin Berry, 21a Whitecroft Road, Meldreth, Royston SG8 6ND.

14th November 2023.