Epsom Downs is regulated by a set of Byelaws made by The Epsom & Walton Downs Conservators under and by virtue of Section 11 of the Epsom and Walton Downs Regaulation Act 1984 in respect of Epsom Downs and parts of Walton Downs within the District of Epsom and Ewell in the County of Surrey. The full byelaws, supplied by Epsom & Ewell Borough Council in November 2006, can be viewed as a PDF document here.
The byelaws cover general matters and additionally include specific regulations for horse riding, kite flying and model aircraft flying. The following extracts from the byelaws relate directly to model aircraft. Whilst all due care has been taken to ensure that these extracts are accurate, please refer to the actual byelaws for the definative version.
1. In these byelaws the expression
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“Model Aircraft” means an aircraft which weighs not more than 7 kilogrammes (15.4 pounds) without its fuel;
"Power-driven” means driven by the combustion of petrol vapour or other combustible vapour or other combustible substances or by one or more electric motors;
“Radio-controlled” means controlled by a radio signal from a wireless transmitter or similar device;
“Jet-propelled or rocket-propelled” means driven by jet propulsion or by means of a rocket, other than by means of a small reaction motor powered by a solid fuel pellet not exceeding 2.54 centimetres (one inch) in length;
“Turbine-powered” means driven by jet propulsion produced by a gas turbine.
2(2) A person shall not on the Downs:
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(d) fly any model aircraft in such a manner as to be likely to cause undue interference with the enjoyment of the land by persons lawfully using the land
(e) intentionally obstruct endanger or give reasonable cause for annoyance to any other person in the proper use of the Downs.
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7. (1) A person shall not release any radio controlled power driven model aircraft for flight or control the flight of such aircraft or shall not cause such an aircraft to take off on any part of the Downs other than the cut strip of grass designated for this purpose and maintained by the Conservators.
(2) A person shall not without reasonable excuse fly a model aircraft over or cause such an aircraft to land on any part of the Downs other than that part which is enclosed by the following boundaries (but excluding the Mile Post Car Park) that is to say
(a) the guard railings on the inside of the Race Course
(b) the eastern side of Langley Vale Road from the underpass to its junction with the footpath leading to Rosebery Road and
(c) the line of that footpath from its junction with Langley Vale Road to a point in line with the guard railings on the inside of the Race Course.
(3) A person shall not without reasonable excuse cause a radio controlled model aircraft to fly over the area set apart by the Conservators for the flying of kites at an altitude of less than 61 metres (200 feet).
8. A person shall not on any part of the Downs set apart by the Conservators for the flying of model aircraft release any model aircraft for flight or control the flight of such an aircraft or cause any such aircraft to take off or land:
(a) on the days when race meetings are held, or
(b) on any other days before 1200 hours or after sunset, or
(c) in the case of radio controlled power driven models on any other days before 1200 hour or after sunset or 2000 hours whichever is the earlier.
9. A person shall not on any part of the Downs release any model aircraft for flight or control the flight of such an aircraft or cause any such aircraft to take off or land which is:
(a) power driven and attached to a control line or
(b) launched by means of a catapult or
(c) jet-propelled or rocket-propelled or
(d) turbine-powered.
10. A person shall not on any part of the Downs set apart by the Conservators for the flying of power driven model aircraft:
release any power-driven model aircraft for flight or control the flight of such an aircraft or
cause any such aircraft to take off or land unless-
(i) the noise emitted by the aircraft gives a noise measurement of not more than 82dB(A) at a distance of 7 metres (23 feet) from the aircraft when measured by means of the equipment described, and by the method set out in the Code of Practice issued in pursuance of the approval given by the Control of Noise (Code of Practice on Noise from Model Aircraft) Order 1982
11. A person shall not, without the consent of the Conservators, on any part of the Downs, release any model aircraft.