Latest news with #FredWinup
The Independent
02-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
The ‘prettiest village in England' launches war on drones
Residents of Castle Combe in the Cotswolds, known as 'the prettiest village in England,' are calling for a ban on tourist drones after incidents of privacy invasion, including one report of a resident being filmed while taking a bath. 'No drone zone' signs have been posted across the village, including on homes, the local church, and the public car park, due to constant drone flights over gardens and streets. A retired police officer, Hilary Baker, reported that some visitors have lost their moral compass, recounting incidents of drones hovering over gardens and near bathroom windows, leading to verbal abuse when residents ask pilots to stop. Police were called last month on a drone pilot who verbally abused locals and allegedly filmed children playing in a back garden; Wiltshire Council has since put up signs warning drone pilots about violating privacy guidelines. A survey by the parish council chairman, Fred Winup, revealed that over half of tourists visit Castle Combe after seeing it online, with many influenced by social media posts on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, leading to increased drone usage and privacy concerns.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cotswold villagers say drones are an invasion
Residents in a Cotswold village said they're fed up with tourists invading their privacy whilst flying drones, with one man being filmed in his bath. Castle Combe in Wiltshire is home to just under 400 people but for generations has been visited by tens of thousands of visitors every year. Often referred to as one of the "prettiest villages in England", the area is known for its chocolate box cottages, timeless charm and picture-perfect backdrops. But Fred Winup, chairman of the Castle Combe Parish Council, said drones are a never-ending battle. More news stories for Wiltshire Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire "Somebody was sitting in his bath, looked out the window and there's a drone filming him," he said. "I've sat in my garden and there's been a drone flying 10ft (3 metres) above my head. "Villagers don't like drones flying over their gardens and looking in their windows," he added. While it is legal for drones to be flown in Castle Combe as long as the rules set out by the UK Civil Aviation Authority are followed, Mr Winup said the majority of the time these rules are being ignored. "There are three things that people are quite frequently breaking. They're flying too close to buildings, too close to people and they can't see the line of sight for the drone," he said. He said over the last few years, villagers have begun propping up 'no drone' signs in their windows in hope it will discourage tourists. Draven McConville, who lives in the village, said villagers feel they have no private spaces anymore. "It does get busy here so we feel that our only spaces are our back gardens so when a drone encroaches in that area, it feels like an invasion of our privacy," he said. "I've had someone stand right on my driveway flying one. Obviously you can hear it. I've gone out and spoken to them and had reasonable conversations. "However there have been occasions that have resulted in verbal abuse for no real reason," he added. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Drones can 'complement' traditional farming methods Drone popularity prompts rule review Holidaymakers' drones endangering planes, RAF says Castle Combe Parish Council Civil Aviation Authority
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cotswold villagers say drones are an invasion
Residents in a Cotswold village said they're fed up with tourists invading their privacy whilst flying drones, with one man being filmed in his bath. Castle Combe in Wiltshire is home to just under 400 people but for generations has been visited by tens of thousands of visitors every year. Often referred to as one of the "prettiest villages in England", the area is known for its chocolate box cottages, timeless charm and picture-perfect backdrops. But Fred Winup, chairman of the Castle Combe Parish Council, said drones are a never-ending battle. More news stories for Wiltshire Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire "Somebody was sitting in his bath, looked out the window and there's a drone filming him," he said. "I've sat in my garden and there's been a drone flying 10ft (3 metres) above my head. "Villagers don't like drones flying over their gardens and looking in their windows," he added. While it is legal for drones to be flown in Castle Combe as long as the rules set out by the UK Civil Aviation Authority are followed, Mr Winup said the majority of the time these rules are being ignored. "There are three things that people are quite frequently breaking. They're flying too close to buildings, too close to people and they can't see the line of sight for the drone," he said. He said over the last few years, villagers have begun propping up 'no drone' signs in their windows in hope it will discourage tourists. Draven McConville, who lives in the village, said villagers feel they have no private spaces anymore. "It does get busy here so we feel that our only spaces are our back gardens so when a drone encroaches in that area, it feels like an invasion of our privacy," he said. "I've had someone stand right on my driveway flying one. Obviously you can hear it. I've gone out and spoken to them and had reasonable conversations. "However there have been occasions that have resulted in verbal abuse for no real reason," he added. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Drones can 'complement' traditional farming methods Drone popularity prompts rule review Holidaymakers' drones endangering planes, RAF says Castle Combe Parish Council Civil Aviation Authority
BBC News
27-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Calls for drones to be banned from village as man filmed in his bath
Residents in a Cotswold village said they're fed up with tourists invading their privacy whilst flying drones, with one man being filmed in his Combe in Wiltshire is home to just under 400 people but for generations has been visited by tens of thousands of visitors every referred to as one of the "prettiest villages in England", the area is known for its chocolate box cottages, timeless charm and picture-perfect Fred Winup, chairman of the Castle Combe Parish Council, said drones are a never-ending battle. "Somebody was sitting in his bath, looked out the window and there's a drone filming him," he said."I've sat in my garden and there's been a drone flying 10ft (3 metres) above my head. "Villagers don't like drones flying over their gardens and looking in their windows," he added. While it is legal for drones to be flown in Castle Combe as long as the rules set out by the UK Civil Aviation Authority are followed, Mr Winup said the majority of the time these rules are being ignored."There are three things that people are quite frequently breaking. They're flying too close to buildings, too close to people and they can't see the line of sight for the drone," he said over the last few years, villagers have begun propping up 'no drone' signs in their windows in hope it will discourage tourists. Draven McConville, who lives in the village, said villagers feel they have no private spaces anymore."It does get busy here so we feel that our only spaces are our back gardens so when a drone encroaches in that area, it feels like an invasion of our privacy," he said."I've had someone stand right on my driveway flying one. Obviously you can hear it. I've gone out and spoken to them and had reasonable conversations."However there have been occasions that have resulted in verbal abuse for no real reason," he added.
