Full Breakdown
Model Boat Ban Enforced at Fairlands Valley Park’s Millennium Lake
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Restriction and Enforcement
Stevenage Borough Council has installed a sign at Millennium Lake in Fairlands Valley Park that prohibits anyone who is not participating in a session run by the local Stevenage Model Boat Club from using the lake. The council’s notice is intended to stop “high-powered model boats” from being operated by the general public.
Club-Driven Safety Measures
Ian Searle, secretary of the Stevenage Model Boat Club, explained that commercially available model boats can reach speeds of 60–70 mph (up to 112 km/h). He warned that inexperienced users—who are often uninsured—pose a risk of accidents on the lake.
Official Rationale
Stevenage Borough Council stated that the sign was erected to prevent accidents caused by high-speed, high-powered model boats operated by non-members. The council’s position emphasizes public safety on the lake and seeks to limit use to organized club sessions where participants have the necessary experience and insurance coverage.
Impact on Recreational Boaters
The restriction effectively ends unrestricted access to Millennium Lake for hobbyists who own or wish to try high-speed model boats outside the club’s framework. While the measure aims to reduce the likelihood of collisions and injuries, it also limits spontaneous recreational use of the park’s water feature, shifting model-boat activity exclusively to club-run events.