Lake District plan for small waters motorboat ban

Buttermere is among the areas that could see the ban on powered vessels

Powered vessels could be banned from small Lake District waters to avoid conflicts between sailors and swimmers.

The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) said it was carrying out a consultation on proposals to amend by-laws to prohibit the use of powered vessels on the smaller lakes including Buttermere, Grasmere and Elterwater.

The LDNPA said Windermere, Coniston, Derwentwater and Ullswater would be unaffected by the proposed changes.

A report said arguments between "drivers of electrically powered vessels and swimmers have been reported in recent years, including incidents where injury to individuals has been narrowly avoided".

The smaller lakes were more "appropriately used" for activities such as paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, and swimming, LDNPA documents said.

They added that, along with the increase in popularity of wild swimming, there has been an increase in power-driven vessels.

"An amendment to the by-laws is necessary to conserve the amenity and natural beauty of the smaller lakes and their surrounding areas and prevent nuisance or damage to the smaller lakes," the report concluded.

LDNPA documents said that there had been an increase in power-driven vessels on smaller lakes

The changes in the byelaws are proposed for:

• Bassenthwaite Lake

• Beacon Tarn

• Blea Tarn (Langdale)

• Bleham Tarn

• Brotherswater

• Buttermere

• Crummock Water

• Devoke Water

• Elterwater

• Ennerdale

• Esthwaite Lake

• Grasmere

• High Dam Tarn

• Little Langdale Tarn

• Loughrigg Tarn

• Loweswater

• Overwater

• Rydal Water

• Tarn Hows

• Wastwater

• Yew Tree Tarn

The LDNPA said exceptions to the by-laws would include the police, Environment Agency, any person taking part in rescue operations and any person employed by or acting with the written consent of the national park authority.

It added it has tried to help those with a limited mobility by accommodating aids such as hand-pedalled canoes and larger vessels.

Under the proposed ban, the maximum fine that could be issued would be £500, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A consultation on the proposed changes will end on 31 May.