Following reports of paramotors being flown at Crosby beach and elsewhere, Sefton Council has issued a reminder that their use is prohibited anywhere along its coast. 

A Coastal and Visitor Area Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) means the use of powered flight is prohibited in any restricted area without the Council’s written approval. This also includes self-propelled paragliders and covers the entirety of the Sefton coastline. 

Paramotors, which are powered paragliders, are legally classed as aircraft by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). 

Paramotor flight can potentially be dangerous. In 2019, experienced pilot Andy Walkden was killed when his craft fell and crashed in Birkdale. 

It also poses a threat to the public if pilots fly low in populated areas or land in an area that is not cleared of people. 

However, this is not the only reason that Sefton Council does not give paramotor users the green light. 

Sefton’s coastline is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) thanks to its unique habitat and the plants and animals that live there. 

SSSI status involves an increased responsibility to protect the habitat and its inhabitants from disturbance, which includes disruption caused by powered aerial and land vehicles. 

The use of paramotors in restricted areas could interrupt the rest, wading or breeding patterns of the many birds which call Sefton’s coast home. 

Outside of restricted areas, pilots must seek the landowner's permission to operate and should also follow both local regulations and CAA rules. 

People can learn more about the Coastal and Visitor Area PSPO by visiting the Sefton Council website.