Call For Windermere 10mph Speed Limit Lift Prompted By Fifth Anniversary

April 29, 2010 - PRLog -- This week, marks five years since a 10mph restriction was brought in - banning water-skiing, jet-skiing and power boating on the 10.5 mile long lake. Windermere was the only lake left in the whole of the Lake District where power-boating and water-skiing could take place.

Jason Dearden, Managing Director, runs Windermere Marina Village on the edge of the lake near Bowness, which is home to over 400 boat owners and draws visitors from the North West, North East and Cumbria, as well as around 11,000 visitors a year staying at its lakeside cottages and apartments. It is the biggest and most sheltered Marina on Windermere, and the largest in the whole of the North.

He believes a relaxation of the 2005 ban or a commitment to rethink it by the Lake District National Park Authority this year, would be a welcome gesture to tourism around the Lake following the floods, as well as assisting in the area’s economic recovery.

He also thinks that representations should be made to review the 10mph byelaw if there’s a change of Government after the general election.

One of the major reasons the ban was brought in was to reduce “conflict” between different types of people using the lake and make the lake more tranquil.

Mr Dearden believes Windermere is large enough to have a scheme which allows room for all types of waterborne activities - sailors, power-boaters, canoers and water-skiers – sharing the water harmoniously.

Mr Dearden said: “We are five years on from the ban and many tourism businesses would like to see a rethink because it unfairly excludes a proportion of visitors from enjoying England’s longest lake. We wouldn’t dream of banning certain visitors from enjoying Scafell Pike, so why have a rule which stops certain visitors wanting to enjoy Windermere.”

“If there is conflict between different types of people using the Lake, all we need to do is start looking at what those conflicts are and finding out how they can be managed - so everyone can enjoy Windermere.”

“We have to get out of the mindset of treating the lake like a village duck-pond and believing this byelaw somehow makes it quiet. It is the bigges and most popular lake in the Lake District and the most developed. There are over 16 lakes and bodies of waters across the Lake District if people are seeking total tranquillity.”

“In the Norfolk Broads, where there are a lot of waterways and a lot of water users, the national park authority there has a system which regulates what every users can do and it works. All we need to do is adopt a similar policy for Lake Windermere and it will really assist tourism. If we are trying to convert a younger audience of visitors to discover the Lakes, we have to offer what they want.”

Water-skiers, power-boaters and jet-skiers were an important visitor to the Marina as they often had a high-disposable income and made repeat visits - staying and spending in the local area as they pursued their hobbies.

Windermere Marina Village, a family-owned tourism business, is close to completing a £3 million upgrade of the Marina and taking bookings again for the new tourism season. Following the floods of last year, the water level of the lake rose 10 feet – swamping the Marina’s 29 ground level Windermere cottages meaning holiday cancellations. The Marina employs around 55 people and its 11,000 annual guests use local restaurants, shops, cafes and visitor attractions, making it a significant contributor to the local economy of Bowness and Windermere.

For more information, please contact Tracii Monet at Windermere Marina Village on 015394 46551 or visit http://www.wmv.co.uk

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Windermere Marina Village is the Lake District’s premier Inland Marina and Holiday Resort incorporating Windermere cottages and apartments.