Drones to be banned near Queen’s official Scottish home
NEW guidelines to ban drones from being flown near the Queen’s official Scottish residence are being drawn up.
Historic Scotland, which operates Holyrood Park in Edinburgh, says it is formulating new rules to ban the flying machines from the area.
The move comes after drones became popular Christmas presents with thousands sold.
They are used as a new way of taking aerial photos and videos.
But government officials have raised concerns they could hit people, buildings and vehicles and may also pose a potential terrorist threat.
Signs have been erected around royal parks in London warning that their use is banned.
Historic Scotland says that, though it has no plans to put up signs in Holyrood Park, near the Palace of Holyroodhouse, new regulations are being drawn up.
Existing regulations covering royal parks already prohibit use of electronic vehicles including remote-controlled cars or model aircraft without written permission.
We’re putting together our own drone guidelines as there has been a massive influx of them
Civil aviation guidelines also ban people from flying drones within 50 metres (164ft) of buildings or other people without consent.
A Historic Scotland spokesman said: “We’re putting together our own drone guidelines as there has been a massive influx of them.”
He added that new guidelines will be issued to staff dealing with requests about drones.
He added: “We get professional requests to use them on our sites for photography and video purposes.
"These are decided on a case-by-case basis.”
Basic drones can be bought for £50, while models that can be operated with a smartphone and capture high definition video cost less than £500.
Footage of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, The Gherkin and Buckingham Palace taken using such devices have been posted on the internet.
Police have also raised fears that drones are being abused by Peeping Toms after receiving complaints.
