Windermere Byelaws Consultation
During the summer of 2008 we consulted on proposed changes to the Windermere Registration byelaws. The Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has now confirmed the amended Registration byelaws, which came into effect on 25 February 2011.
Press release issued 18 May 2011:
Fresh evidence is to be submitted to the Government to try to persuade it to finally confirm that the maximum lake speed limit on Windermere should be measured in nautical miles (knots) per hour and not the land-based statute measurement.
National Park Authority members heard today (Wednesday 18 May) that lake users had been surprised and disappointed when earlier this year the Defra Minister Richard Benyon said that without more evidence he was unable to confirm the speed limit at 10 knots. And he thought it had been the Authority’s original intention to have the lower 10 statute miles per hour limit.
But members were told that for the last six years the speed limit had been operated and legally enforced as though it was 10 knots.
A report from Director of Park Services Bob Cartwright explained that the effective difference between having a speed limit in knots rather than statute miles was 1.5 miles per hour, and while this did not seem a great amount it could have huge implications for the way the lake was used.
There were three particular areas of concern in operating a speed limit at the lower 10 statute miles per hour:
- an adverse effect on timetables for commercial transport operators;
- inconsistency with parts of the lake that already have lower safety speed limits legally approved in knots; and
- water-skiing (currently possible at 10 knots for beginners, young and lightweight skiers) would become totally impossible.
The report explained that court actions had proved the 10 knots speed limit had been legally effective and the LDNPA now needed to consult with lake users to provide the additional evidence to convince Defra that a 10 knot limit was the best outcome for Windermere.
“Today we have a safer and more tranquil lake than we used to have before 2005 and lake users understand these limits. Significantly, the Windermere Lake Users Forum - which represents thousands of lake users, from swimmers and anglers to canoeists and power boaters - overwhelmingly supports the 10 knots limit. Now we need to produce the evidence to explain this to the Government.
“The establishment of effective byelaws helps to reinforce the environmental qualities of the lake and secures a clear management regime. This enables businesses to plan investment with confidence, this promoting a prosperous economy and vibrant communities,” Bob’s report concluded.
Press release issued 20 April 2011:
Major changes have today (Wednesday 20 April) been approved to the registration scheme for people taking their powered boats onto England’s largest and most popular lake.
The alterations follow an overhaul and public consultation of the registration byelaws on Windermere and a Defra ministerial announcement earlier this year. A key change is that there is only one registration scheme for Windermere now.
Lake District National Park members meeting in Kendal approved a report, which also introduces revised registration fees for the next three years. After that any increases will be linked to the Consumer Price Index.
Head of Park Management Mark Eccles explained that well over 4,000 powered craft register each year with the Windermere Registration Scheme and about 130 with the Marine Coastguard Agency’s Small Ships Register.
In future all powered boats on the lake will have to be part of the Windermere Registration Scheme, annually paying £20 for new registrations, £15 for renewals, and a one-off £5 fee this year for people who need to transfer from the SSR. Mark was keen to point out that the fees set only cover the cost of the scheme and there is no intention to make money from power boat users.
The main changes to the Windermere registration byelaws are:
- a minimum age of 16 years for those registering a powered vessel;
- the removal of the previous byelaw that exempted craft on the Small Ships Register from having to pay the Windermere registration fee;
- a requirement for registered owners, in the case of an alleged offence against these byelaws, to give information regarding the identity of the master of the vessel to the police or the national park authority; and
- an increase in the penalty for conviction to £500 replacing the current maximum of £100.
Full details of the changes are to be sent to all registered boat owners and a copy of the minister’s decision letter can be seen on our Windermere Byelaws Consultation web page.
“The implementation of the revised registration byelaws helps promote safe and enjoyable recreational activity on Windermere. Effective byelaws help reinforce the environmental qualities of the lake and secure a clear management regime,” Mark added.
Useful links
Documents
- Notice of Windermere Navigation and Registration Byelaws 2008 (PDF)
- Windermere Navigation Byelaws to be confirmed by Secretary of State (PDF)
- Windermere Registration Byelaws to be confirmed by Secretary of State (PDF)
- Minister's letter about Windermere Navigation Byelaws sent 25 January 2011 (PDF)
- Minister's letter about Windermere Registration Byelaws sent 25 January 2011 (PDF)
- Letter to registered boat owners explaining byelaw changes April 2011 (Word document)
Report on Windermere Byelaws presented to Authority on 23 July 2008
- Windermere Lake Management draft byelaws report (PDF)
- Windermere Lake Management draft byelaws annex 1 (PDF)
- Windermere Lake Management draft byelaws annex 2a (PDF)
- Windermere Lake Management draft byelaws annex 2b (PDF)
- Windermere Lake Management draft byelaws annexes 3 and 4 (PDF)
- Windermere Lake Management draft byelaws annex 5 (PDF)
- Windermere Lake Management draft byelaws annex 6 (PDF)