The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Weston-Super-Mare) Regulations 2026

Published: Fri 27th Mar 26

The legislation imposed temporary, low-altitude flight restrictions for unmanned aircraft over a defined area of Weston-Super-Mare from June 5th through June 7th, 2026, to ensure public safety during a major festival.

These Regulations, made under the Air Navigation Order 2016, impose a temporary restriction on flying unmanned aircraft below 1,200 feet above mean sea level within a specified, geographically defined area around Weston-Super-Mare between June 5th and June 7th, 2026, to ensure public safety during the 'Summer Fest at the Beach' music festival, with the restriction being lifted except for flights authorized specifically by the Avon and Somerset Police Counter-UAS team.

Arguments For

The primary justification rests on public safety, specifically necessitated by the intended gathering of a large number of persons for the 'Summer Fest at the Beach' music festival.
Restricting low-altitude unmanned aircraft (drones) prevents potential safety hazards to the assembled crowds and interference with necessary emergency service operations during a high-density public event.
The restriction empowers law enforcement (Avon and Somerset Police Counter-UAS team) to maintain airspace control over the sensitive area, ensuring order and security for the duration of the festival.
The restriction is temporary, limited in duration (June 5th to 7th, 2026) and strictly defined geographically, indicating a proportionate response to a specific, time-bound event.

Arguments Against

The blanket restriction limits the general freedom to operate unmanned aircraft, potentially affecting legitimate commercial activities, aerial photography, or recreational use near the restricted zone, even if unrelated to the festival.
Defining the restricted area based solely on geographic coordinates might inadvertently encompass private property or areas not directly involved in the public gathering, imposing constraints on uninvolved parties.
While an exemption exists for police-authorized flights, establishing a single point of contact (Avon and Somerset Police Counter-UAS team) for permissions may lead to delays or confusion for legitimate operators needing urgent authorization.
The use of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) for defining specified times requires general aviation operators to perform real-time conversion relative to British Summer Time (BST), introducing a minute administrative burden.

2026 No. 376

CIVIL AVIATION

The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Weston-SuperMare) Regulations 2026

Made

25th March 2026

Coming into force

5th June 2026

This establishes the instrument as Statutory Instrument 2026 No. 376, concerning civil aviation.

The formal title names the regulation as The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Weston-SuperMare) Regulations 2026.

The instrument was formally made on March 25th, 2026, and is scheduled to legally take effect on June 5th, 2026.

The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict the flying of unmanned aircraft in the area specified in regulation 3(1) by reason of the intended gathering there of a large number of persons.

The Secretary of State makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016( a ).

The Secretary of State determined that restricting unmanned aircraft (drone) flights in the defined area is required for the public interest.

This necessity arises because a significant number of people plan to assemble there for an event.

These restrictions are implemented using the legal powers granted under Article 239 of the Air Navigation Order 2016.

Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Weston-SuperMare) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 5th June 2026.

Regulation 1 names these rules as The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Weston-SuperMare) Regulations 2026 for citation purposes.

The rules formally become legally active and enforceable starting on June 5th, 2026.

Interpretation

In regulation 3(2) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).

Regulation 2 clarifies that any times mentioned in sub-regulation 3(2) must be read and understood using Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).

Restricted airspace

-(1) Subject to paragraph (3), during the periods specified in paragraph (2) no unmanned aircraft is to fly below 1,200 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points-

(a) 512102N 0025953W,
(b) 512102N 0025817W,
(c) 512046N 0025758W,
(d) 512008N 0025814W,
(e) 511940N 0025830W,
(f) 511935N 0025924W,
(g) 511940N 0030023W, and
(h) 512102N 0025953W.

(2) The periods referred to in paragraph (1) begin with-

( a ) S.I. 2016/765, amended by S.I. 2024/990; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.

( b ) Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).

(a) 1200 hours and end with 2330 hours on 5th June 2026, and
(b) 1200 hours and end with 2359 hours on 6th and 7th June 2026.

(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any unmanned aircraft flying with a permission issued by the Avon and Somerset Police Counter-UAS team.

Sub-regulation 3(1) prohibits unmanned aircraft from flying below 1,200 feet above sea level within a specific geographic boundary defined by eight sets of North/West coordinates, unless an exception in paragraph (3) applies.

This restriction is enforced only during the times detailed in sub-regulation (2).

Sub-regulation 3(2) specifies the restricted timing.

The prohibition starts at 12:00 UTC and ends at 23:30 UTC on June 5th, 2026.

For June 6th and 7th, 2026, the prohibition applies from 12:00 UTC until 23:59 UTC on each day.

Footnotes clarify that UTC is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST) and provide context for the governing Air Navigation Order.

Sub-regulation 3(3) provides the exception: the airspace restriction does not affect any unmanned aircraft flying if it possesses a specific permission validated by the Avon and Somerset Police Counter-UAS team.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport

25th March 2026

This concludes the formal document, indicating that the instrument was signed on March 25th, 2026, under the delegated authority of the Secretary of State for Transport.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These regulations impose restrictions on the flying of unmanned aircraft in the vicinity of WestonSuper-Mare, Somerset for the Summer Fest at the Beach music festival that is due to take place there on 5th to 7th June 2026, inclusive. At the request of Avon and Somerset Police, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport agree that the flying of unmanned aircraft should be restricted for reasons of public safety given the intended gathering of a large number of persons.

The times mentioned in regulation 3(2) are Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) which is one hour behind British Summer Time (BST).

In relation to the permission mentioned in regulation 3(3), the Avon and Somerset Police CounterUAS team may be contacted as notified.

Full details of this Statutory Instrument will be promulgated by Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) and Notice to Aviation (NOTAM).

The point of contact in the Civil Aviation Authority is Mr Thomas Shainberg, Airspace Regulator, Safety and Airspace Regulation Group, contactable on telephone number 03301 382515.

Karen L Michaels Grade 7 Department for Transport

The Explanatory Note clarifies that the rules restrict drone flights near Weston-Super-Mare for the 'Summer Fest at the Beach' festival occurring between June 5th and 7th, 2026.

This action resulted from a request by Avon and Somerset Police, agreed upon by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport, citing public safety concerns due to the large crowd.

It reiterates that times in Regulation 3(2) use UTC, which is one hour behind BST. The note also directs interested parties to contact the Avon and Somerset Police Counter-UAS team regarding any permissions mentioned in the rules.

Official operational details regarding this Statutory Instrument will be disseminated through an Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) and a Notice to Aviation (NOTAM).

The contact within the Civil Aviation Authority for inquiries regarding airspace regulation is Mr Thomas Shainberg of the Safety and Airspace Regulation Group.

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