How ukwaterpark.org/ Uses Cookies — PECR, UK GDPR, ICO Cookie Guidance
This page sets out the cookies and similar technologies we use, what each does, how long it lasts, and the choices you have under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR), the UK GDPR, and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) cookie guidance. Read it alongside our Privacy Notice.
What is on this page
1. What Cookies Are
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. Similar technologies include local storage, pixels and SDKs. They allow a website to remember your preferences, keep your visit working smoothly, measure usage and (when you consent) support personalised advertising.
In the UK, cookies are governed by the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR) — specifically regulation 6, which requires prior informed consent for non-essential cookies — together with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 where the cookie processes personal data. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the supervisory authority for both PECR and UK GDPR.
2. Why We Use Cookies
- To make the site work — load pages, remember your cookie preferences, protect against abuse
- To remember your preferences — region preference, font-size choice, accessibility preferences
- To understand what is useful — aggregated, anonymised analytics on which directory pages are read most
- To support display advertising — frequency capping and basic measurement, with personalised advertising only where you have consented
3. The Four Categories of Cookie
1. Strictly necessary
Essential for the site to function. PECR exempt from consent requirement (regulation 6(4)).
2. Functional
Remember preferences. PECR requires consent; on unless you opt out.
3. Analytics
Aggregated usage measurement. PECR requires consent; off unless you opt in via the banner.
4. Advertising
Frequency capping, measurement and personalised advertising. PECR requires consent; off unless you opt in via the banner.
4. First-Party Cookies (Set by ukwaterpark.org/)
| Name | Purpose | Category | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
| ukwp_consent | Records your cookie-consent choice | Strictly necessary | 12 months |
| ukwp_session | Maintains page-load state during your visit | Strictly necessary | Session |
| ukwp_csrf | Cross-site request forgery protection | Strictly necessary | Session |
| ukwp_pref | Stores accessibility / UI preferences | Functional | 6 months |
| ukwp_gpc | Records that we received a Global Privacy Control signal | Strictly necessary | 12 months |
5. Third-Party Cookies
| Provider | Purpose | Category | Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics 4 (GA4) | Aggregated site analytics | Analytics | policies.google.com/privacy |
| Google AdSense | Display advertising; frequency capping; measurement | Advertising | policies.google.com/technologies/ads |
| Cloudflare | Site security, bot mitigation, performance (CDN) | Strictly necessary | cloudflare.com/privacypolicy |
6. PECR and UK GDPR Consent
For non-essential cookies (functional, analytics, advertising), PECR regulation 6 requires prior informed consent. We obtain this through our cookie banner on first visit. Consent is:
- Specific — you can accept some categories and reject others
- Informed — this page sets out what each cookie does
- Freely given — rejecting non-essential cookies is as easy as accepting them
- Unambiguous — pre-ticked boxes do not count; you must take a clear affirmative action
- Withdrawable — you can change your choice at any time via the “Cookie settings” link in the footer
These requirements come from PECR regulation 6 read with Article 7 UK GDPR and the ICO’s cookie guidance.
7. ICO Cookie Guidance
We follow the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) cookie guidance, which sets out how PECR and UK GDPR apply to cookie use in the UK. The ICO is the UK supervisory authority for PECR and UK GDPR. If you have a complaint about our cookie use, you can complain to the ICO at ico.org.uk.
8. How to Manage Cookies
- Cookie banner — accept, reject or customise on first visit
- “Cookie settings” link in the footer — change your choice at any time
- Browser controls — block or delete cookies (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, Brave)
- Private / Incognito browsing
- GPC-enabled browser — Brave, Firefox (with extension), DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser; we honour the Global Privacy Control signal as a withdrawal of consent to non-essential cookies
9. Industry Opt-Out Tools
- Your Online Choices (EDAA) — youronlinechoices.com/uk — the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance opt-out tool
- Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) — optout.networkadvertising.org
- Google Ads settings — adssettings.google.com
- Browser-level controls — your browser’s “Settings” → “Privacy” → “Cookies”
10. Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control
The browser-level Do Not Track (DNT) signal is no longer supported by major browsers and the original DNT specification was never finalised. We honour the more current Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal as a withdrawal of consent to non-essential cookies.
11. Changes to This Cookie Policy
We update this policy when our practices change or when UK law changes. The “Last reviewed” date at the top reflects the current version.
12. Contact
For any cookie or privacy query, email info@ukwaterpark.org with the subject “Cookie query” — see our Privacy Notice for the full UK GDPR rights framework, and our notes on complaints to the ICO at ico.org.uk.
Manage Your Cookie Preferences Any Time
Use the “Cookie settings” link in the site footer to change your choice. Your decision is remembered for 12 months from when you set it.
📧 info@ukwaterpark.org