§ Kate HoeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what78W implications the introduction of the Navigation By Law 1992 for Lake Windermere has for (a) other national parks and (b) access for sport and recreation. [98076]
§ Alun MichaelThe byelaws deal with the particular circumstances applying on Lake Windermere. Government policy on recreation in national parks is set out in Circular 12/96, which enjoins national park authorities to promote the widest range of recreational opportunities while fully respecting the special qualities of the parks. The circular acknowledges that the intrusive nature of some recreational activities may unacceptably affect other people's enjoyment of these nationally important areas. No particular opportunities should be excluded from the parks as a matter of principle.
The byelaws are expected to cause fast power boating to cease on Lake Windermere, together with associated activities, of which waterskiing is the most popular. On the other hand more people may be attracted to engage in other water-based recreational pursuits when what has been seen as a fundamental problem of incompatibility between power boating and lower key activities has been solved.
§ Kate HoeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what consultations the Lake District National Park Authority has undertaken with(a) local recreational users, (b) businesses and (c) lake users from outside the national park on proposals to introduce a speed limit on Lake Windermere; [98079]
(2) what estimate she has made of (a) job losses and (b) loss of revenue at Lake Windermere arising from the application of the Navigation (Amendment) (No 2) Bylaw 1992 in 2005. [98078]
§ Alun MichaelWide consultation and a careful examination of the implications was undertaken. The Lake District National Park Authority consulted over 50 organisations representing recreational and business interests both locally and nationally, before advertising proposals locally. The authority then considered all representations in response to the advertisement before making the byelaws that will introduce a speed limit.
The implications of the byelaws were examined in detail in 1996 at a public local inquiry held by an independent inspector. The issues examined included potential job losses and loss of revenue. The inspector concluded that the strong need for the speed limit had to be balanced against the possibility of some limited economic disruption. He found the overall balance clearly in favour of confirmation of the byelaws. In February 2000, after further views had been invited, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the then Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions agreed with the inspector's conclusion. He observed that the tourist profile in the region might alter but that it was not clear whether this would result in a net economic loss or a gain.
The byelaws came into operation on 29 March 2000 and the Secretary of State has no role in their implementation. The five year lapse until the speed limit comes into effect in 2005 should allow businesses and people who engage in power boating and waterskiing to make alternative arrangements.