Loch Lomond Restrictions.

[Alistairr]

Glasgow Herald Tuesday 13/12/05


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Speed curb proposals for loch watered down
by, VICKY COLLINS, Environment Correspondent December 13 2005

THE Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park board yesterday made a final decision on proposals to extend speed regulations on Loch Lomond.
Demonstrators claimed extra restrictions were not necessary and protesters demanded that Scotland's first national park abandon the plans, despite efforts to reach a compromise deal on the issue.
The park wants to tighten by-laws to help tackle criticism that the loch has become a playground for jet-skiers, preventing others from enjoying quieter pursuits.
The original plan was to introduce a central go-slow zone, which would have meant speed was restricted to 7mph in almost half of the loch.
However, that proposal met widespread criticism when it went out to consultation, and the board agreed to change it so that the new by-laws merely extend current speed restrictions in place around the islands.
An extra 8% of the total area of the loch will be affected.
Gillie Thomson, convener of the national park authority, said: "We think these proposals are fair and workable. We will submit the proposals to the Scottish Executive by the end of the month."

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Will need to see a map of the new restriction, but i think A Result to a certain degree!!!
Most of the waters round the islands were a restricted area anyway, just hoping it doesn't extend too close to Balmaha. Wouldn't be fun for people who boat out of there!

Pity Windermere didn't back down to a compromise!!!

Cheers

Al.

 

[MedDreamer]

Congratulations on having a Park authority that listens to public opinion and takes into account the views of all the people who want to use the lake for recreation. I wish the LDNPA had shown the same degree of common sense instead of allowing a few idiots with their own tanti-mobo agenda to dictate the rules.

What can be clearly seen from their deliberation and in the decision of the LDNPA is that the PWC users have to take a lot of the blame (and I know that some of them are responsible and considerate lake users so I''m not generalising). Unless the selfish element amonst the jet-ski fraternity modify their actions, the "tree huggers" on the Loch Lomond park authority will just have ammunition for future attacks on speed limitations.

 

[michaelh]

The other thing that was noteworthy was that Loch Lomond canvassed the financial impact of change. Obviously they were very aware for the potential to make a very big cock up as Windermere did.

I was quite refreshing to be sent a questionnaire asking if my expenditure in the region would change as a result of bylaw variation.

 

[itsonlymoney]

Obviously got more brains north of the border than our shower of **** in Cumbria.
Ian

 

[Lakesailor]

It sounds like a decent outcome, provided it is accepted. Also, don't forget, in 1997 the LDNPA promised powerboating on Windermere in perpituity as recompense for losing the othe big lakes.
Some promise.

 

[Alistairr]

I don't suppose its over and done with either!!

I think the inevitable will happen at some time, its just a question of when!
I would recon its less than 5 years off!!

Cheers

Al.

 

[tinstaafl]

New map here:

http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/upload/file/npa_board/2005_06_01_App2.pdf

tinstaafl

 

[Dave_Snelson]

This might be a stupid question but...how, on a Loch the size of this, do you know where the speed limits are? Is it buoyed or something?

 

[michaelh]

There are some buoys and shore mounted signs but mostly you need to be aware of where the zones are.

Bit confusing until you get used to it.

 

[petem]

Excuse my ignorance but why don't they just ban jetskiers?

Pete

 

[Lakesailor]

Because then they'd not have a chance to re-visit the "problem" and make swingeing changes.

 

[silver_boy]

I'm with pete. We've got a boat on Loch Lomond and I have to say jet-skis are really annoying most of the time. Could they not just ban them or hace a speed limit especially for jet-skis?

 

[Lakesailor]

You could take up fishing.

 

[tinstaafl]

[ QUOTE ]
Excuse my ignorance but why don't they just ban jetskiers?

Pete

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Think there's an ancient right of navigation for all. Must admit I thought the same was true of Windermere...

Whatever, you can't descriminate against certain craft types.

tinstaafl

 

[masaccio]

Yeah...and let's get rid of 3-series BMWs while we're at it. I hate art-house films with sub-tittles...let's ban those. And burn books by authors we don't like. And make ginger people live in special ghettos, because they're quite annoying, too.

 

[MedDreamer]

I accept the point you're making Tom but it is undoubtably true that the behaviour of a few "Jet Skiers" helped fuel the support of the anti mobo lobby on Windermere and its clear that this is a significant issue in the Loch Lomond situation.

In our last summer on Windermere we anchored up overnight in the 6mph zone at the north of the bay we were woken the next morning by the sound of a Jetskier, out early "buzzing" around the boats and doing laps around the resticted zone, using the yellow buoy that marked the start of the 6mph zone as a turning point for his lap. It was a glorious still morning, he had five miles of unrestricted lake to to himself but chose to "play" at high speed in the restricted area. That type of behaviour is just ridiculous but great ammo for the tree huggers.

Yes this is may be an extreme case but I don't think it is, there is a mentality amonst certain types of Jetski user, I bet everyone on here who has been out on open water can recount similar experiences. OK they can also give examples of inconsiderate mobo'ers and raggies but proportionally the PWC users are a greater nusiance.

 

[Lakesailor]

[ QUOTE ]
Think there's an ancient right of navigation for all. Must admit I thought the same was true of Windermere...


[/ QUOTE ] They didn't ban anything from Windermere, that was the point, they just restricted the maximum speed.

I think you can discriminate against craft types. Harbour Authorities and councils ban jetskis from harbours and beaches don't they?

Don't you just love 'em

Safety First!

 

[masaccio]

At this point I would normally mount a vigorous defense of Jet Skiers (as I have done on countless occasions), but having just put the January issue of Jet Skier & PW magazine to bed, frankly I just can't be @rsed. If anyone feels that strongly about PWs, email the Personal Watercraft Partnership at: chris@pwpuk.org and ask them to do something about it.

 

[lucas]

Going to state the obvious. Devolution makes sense. Having a National government means that local issues are better understood and all opinions are considered. Well done to the campainers. Having been previously on the Loch I would have moved if there were any restrictions. I am free on the sea.