The Lake District Planning Board was urged at its meeting at Kendal yesterday to take immediate action with other interested authorities to control the speed of boats on lakes in the National Park.
Mr C. H. D. Acland of Ambleside, declared: “We do not want to see the slaughter on the roads finding its way on to our lakes.”
After stating that the speed of some craft on Windermere was “already outrageous,” he referred to fresh problems which were arising from an increasing amount of water ski-ing.
The board was told that the development control committee is to review the matter at its next meeting with a view to considering what action might be taken.
In raising the matter, Mr Acland said that the question of speed on the lakes should be treated in a much more urgent way and on a more radical and fundamental basis than had been done in the past.
Lady Muriel Lowther of Askham said the board should not do anything to stop water ski-ing because it was a sport that so many enjoyed.
She thought the matter might be solved if the board was able to recommend certain areas of the lakes which could be used for that purpose away from other craft.
With a view to protecting the beauty at the head of the dales, the Development Control Committee is to consider proposals at a meeting in the early autumn to prevent caravanning in certain areas.
Mr C. H. Bicknell said that in the past they had encouraged a broad policy of having large caravan sites well sited on the fringe of the Lake District and allowing development on smaller sites within the park provided they did not cause any injury to amenity. Approval had never been given for caravan sites at the head of the dales and the proposals would be designed to prevent any such development in particular areas in the future. The approval of the Minister of Housing and Local Government would have to be sought for the proposals to become effective.
Middle course
Mr Acland said during the Easter and Whitsuntide holidays camping had been taking place which was unsatisfactory from both the scenic and sanitation aspects.
Replying on behalf of the committee, Mr P. Cleave of Ulverston said that it was felt that the board would be unwise if it appeared to persecute the person who wanted to go off and camp on his own and enjoy quiet. The position at the head of Langdale had improved since the trouble of two years ago and he felt they should steer a course between too much control and too much licence when dealing with the problem of camping.
