WINDERMERE LAKE USER FORUM
MINUTES of a meeting of the Windermere Lake User Forum held at the Royal
Windermere Yacht Club, Fallbarrow Road, Bowness on Windermere, Cumbria at 6.00
pm on 28 September 2015.
PRESENT:
Mrs C Shaw (Powered Craft) – Chairman
Mr D Simister (Sailor)
Mr J Dearden (Commercial Users)
Mr P Kelly (Canoeists/Rowers)
Mr J Woodburn (Transport providers)
Mr David Hall (Sailor)
Mr P Hardman (Powered Craft) –Vice Chair
Mrs Lynda Gooch (General Users/Youth)
OTHERS PRESENT:
Mr S Gaskell (LDNPA)
Mr D Sykes (SLDC)
Mrs V Senior (LDNPA)
Mr R Muggridge (LDNPA)
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Mr J Maguire (SLDC)
Mr F Flannagan (SLDC)
Mr J Turner (EA)
Apologies and welcome to new members
Apologies were received from Mr T Ball (Outdoor/Providers), Ms D Wright (SLDC)
and Mrs S Sanderson (SLDC).
Two new members were welcomed on to the Forum Lynda Gooch (General
Users/Youth) and David Hall (Sailor), Colin Hill (Swimmer) has resigned due to
work commitments. Mr Peter Kelly has requested to take over the swimming
representation role. This leaves two vacancies. Canoe and Rowing and Angling.
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Approval of minutes and Matters arising
Minutes of the meeting on the 23 March 2015 were approved with the following
amendment:Boat Safety Scheme – the date needs changing to June and December 2015.
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Report from WLUF members and discussion
Improving access to the lake
Four new buoys designated for short stays whilst going ashore, have been
installed at Waterhead and three at Ferry Nab. To identify these as short stay
these buoys will be kept blue but will have yellow pick ups attached.
A method of communicating this new facility is to be agreed as part of promotion of
lake facilities.
Action
Discussion to be had over the winter between WLUF and SLDC CS & FF
Access Group Meeting
Mrs Shaw would like to see the Access Group resurrected as it has now not met
for 18 months. Mr Gaskell agreed to source the minutes of the last meeting. Mr
Gaskell asked if forum members could find out which businesses/ hotels around
the lake have an interest in providing public access by jetty to lake shore.
Action:
WLUF members to contact businesses/ hotels and provide list of those
interested in providing public access to Mr Gaskell. Mr Gaskell to discuss
appropriate next steps on 14 October meeting with Mr Ratcliffe.
Mr Maguire and Mr Gaskell will be attending a site meeting with Mr Ratcliffe on the
14 October to look at the potential for new public access at Bowness Bay. Mr
Dearden will attend the meeting on behalf of WLUF members.
Increases in lake charges remain within inflation
Mr Maguire informed the group that mooring and encroachment fees will increase
by 2% but there will be no increase in charges to other lake services.
Mrs Shaw asked what reinvestment into lake services will take place in 2015/16.
SLDC have increased public jetty length at Ferry Nab and there are 24 new
smaller dinghy tenders. Extra moorings and redesign of the jetty is to take place at
Waterhead. Planning permission has been applied for at Ferry Nab to improve the
toilet facilities for both families and disabled use and also improve the washing up
facilities. The facilities at Ferry Nab will be available for all the 700 mooring
holders and other lake users during the day time opening hours. Out of hours the
showers and toilets will only be accessible to SLDC Mooring and Berthing clients.
The token relates to the purchase and payment of showers by all users except
mooring and berthing clients.
Mrs Shaw asked what procedures were being implemented to ensure that some
mooring holders don’t hog the jetties at Ferry Nab. Mr Maguire informed the group
that the lake wardens are trying to educate mooring holders and hourly checks are
taking place on the hour every hour.
Disabled access
Mr Maguire has previously offered to meet with all the outdoor centers to discuss
disabled requirements. Mr Hall offered his assistance on this matter.
Action:
Mr Hall to meet with Mr Flannagan to look at options and possibilities for
disabled facilities at Ferry Nab.
United Utilities
The water level on Windermere has been low throughout the summer season. It
would appear that the cause of this is repair work on a main pipe by UU.
Communication on this has not been clear.
There was concern that WLUF are the only body that responded to the
consultation with UU over West Cumbria’s water supply and its potential impact on
Windermere. Mrs Shaw felt that the LDNPA and SLDC should be kept informed
when excessive water is being taken from the lake and she would like to see it
raised with both LDNPA’s members and SLDC’s councilors, to ensure they are
aware of any potential risks in advance of Thirlmere being dedicated to the West
Coast supply.
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Joint Reports from LDNPA and SLDC
4.1
All members have received a copy of the Joint Annual Report, the report runs from
the 1 October 2013 – 30 September 2014 and it summarizes the services which
both the LDNPA and SLDC staff have undertaken on the lake. Members asked
how meaningful the data is that is gathered especially when it is used by
organisations seeking planning permission. This was the case when the
consultants supporting Aquatics used the data when submitting their planning
application.
SLDC and LDNPA confirmed that they are looking at the relevance and method of
gathering of data to ensure that it is meaningful. They will discuss this with the
WLUF.
Mr Kelly will try to get more accurate data regarding how many swimmers use the
lake. Mr Muggridge will contact Nova to see if they have any information regarding
how often their participants swim in the lake.
Mr Hardman asked if there had been a reduction in lone swimmers, it was reported
there has been a reduction. Both SLDC and the LDNPA are trying to educate any
lone swimmers that are spotted.
Mr Hardman asked why there was no reference in the Joint Annual Report to the
swimmer who got into difficulty and subsequently died during the Great North
Swim. It was reported that the incident with a swimmer at the Great North Swim
was not one the Lake Wardens or the Lake Rangers were directly involved with as
it was attended by the Great North team themselves. Therefore the death was not
referred to in the annual report as it was not a rescue either service was involved
with.
4.2
Lake Survey Action Plan
Lake Facilities
Fuel – Windermere Marina have installed diesel but have no plans to install petrol.
SLDC have looked into installing petrol at Ferry Nab but at present it doesn’t
appear to be commercially viable. Mr Dearden felt that some commercial
operators would be willing to help cover the costs of installation of the pumps.
Action:
Mr Maguire to speak to Mr Ratcliffe as SLDC would need 33m of jetty run
to get fuel far enough away from the boathouse.
Rescue and Safety
Under the current lake rescue and breakdown service SLDC will tow all lake users
to the nearest place of safety, if lake users request another location it is at SLDC
discretion as to whether they charge. If lake users contact the Coast Guard it is a
free service but they would only be taken to the nearest place of safety. Contacting
the Coast Guard through the 999 system is the official way to seek emergency
assistance. The wardens respond to these calls.
Environment
SLDC are looking at installing a boat washing facility so that boat users can wash
their boats off when taking them off the water to prevent non-native invasive
species being transferred to other water courses.
Mrs Shaw would like water levels to be included in the Environment Section of the
revised WSD, it was felt it would be better placed in the Windermere Strategy
document as there is nothing that the local authorities can do to enforce water
levels if UU are working within their abstraction agreement.
Mr Kelly asked if there are any monitoring facilities for blue/green algae. The EA
take water samples and if reports come back positive landowners around the lake
put up notices. SLDC cascade this information out via email, press release and
Facebook.
Action:
Mr Flanagan to add Mrs Shaw to the email list.
Action:
Mr Gaskell to send EA information leaflet to Mr Kelly.
Windermere Lake User Forum
There was concern that lake users know about the Windermere Lake User Forum
but are unsure how to get in touch with members. Mrs Shaw asked if both
authorities would be willing to pay for a website Mr Gaskell informed the group that
there is no money available but he would be happy to arrange a meeting with
LDNP communications team to look at and agree improvements that could be
made to the WLUF page on the National Park website and looking into how the
WLUF could promote themselves on Face Book.
Action:
Mr Gaskell to arrange a meeting with Mrs Shaw and relevant officer in
Communications Team.
Action:
All forum members to send a photo to Mrs Shaw by the 15 October 2015
to be used on the revised WLUF page on the LDNP website.
Public Jetties
Fell Foot – no updates have been received from the Project Team.
Bowness Bay – at present there is no room to add another jetty at Bowness Bay.
However there are discussions between SLDC and LDNPA to try to improve
access for boat users in this area.
Action
If there are any proposals in the future Windermere Lake Cruises would
like to be consulted. This to be added to the Lake Access Group
discussions.
Waterhead – SLDC will be putting out a tender for a new jetty at Waterhead, it will
be a fixed jetty but hopefully slightly longer than it is now.
Communication with Lake Users (including Lake User Guide)
Mr Gaskell presented members with the revised Windermere Lake User Guide for
2016. The National Park intends to get this printed in time for Easter 2016. The
guide needs to provide lake users with information about their rights and
responsibilities. At present the LDNPA pays £3,000 for the distribution of the 4 lake
user guides and due to budget reductions the lake user guides for Coniston,
Ullswater and Derwent Water will not be printed for 2016 instead copies will be
made available on the website. The lake user guide for Windermere will continue
to be printed and distributed. This saves £2250. 30,000 Windermere lake user
guides will be produced and distributed. The draft for the 2016 guide needs to be
finalised by October.
Action:
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Members to pass any comments on the draft lake user guide to Mr
Dearden before the 13 October, who will then work with Mr Gaskell.
Windermere Strategy update
Mr Sykes informed the group that due to staffing issues neither authority has been
able to progress with the Windermere Strategy, now looking at external support to
take forward and aiming for a conclusion by September 2016.
Action:
Mr Sykes to circulate updates when available.
Mrs Shaw would the like forum to be included in these discussions and any new
proposals and developments for a revised strategy document.
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Reports and Proposed Consultations from LDNPA
Update on boat safety scheme
The LDNPA is waiting for the pending court case to be concluded before it can
consider the Marine Accident Investigation Branch’s recommendations. After the
court case is concluded the matter will be returned to authority members for their
consideration.
Action:
All members have been asked to update themselves on the Boat Safety
Scheme (on their website) before the next meeting.
Exemption update by the LDNPA
The LDNPA received two applications in 2015.
Windermere Motor Boat Racing Club put an application in to hold four events over
the next 2 years, the 2015 events have taken place successfully.
The Lakes Flying Company proposed to fly a replica Waterbird on the 17
September this has had to be cancelled as they are awaiting for the CAA to give
approval for the structural integrity of the floats. They now hope to fly in spring
2016. When a date has been agreed the LDNPA will have to consult with
consultees on the new date.
Mr Hardman and Mrs Shaw presented the forum with a proposal to consult with a
range of lake users and interested parties on an exemption to allow waterskiing
and wakeboarding on Windermere. Mr Hardman outlined the proposal that seeks
views on locations and timings and methods of monitoring and controlling the use
of such an exemption.
Mr Dearden confirmed that he understood the proposal presented was to consult
on suitable time and locations prior to progressing with an exemption request. Mr
Hardman confirmed that this was the case.
Members discussed the proposal, there were a variety of views, all agreed that a
lot more discussion would need to take place.
Mr Gaskell said that the proposal does not fit within the policy for an exemption. If
the applicant wanted to discuss any initial ideas with him directly, he could give a
clear steer on whether it would be a viable proposal. Mrs Shaw said if an
exemption proposal were to be submitted to the LDNPA for discussion then if the
policy is a problem it would need to be looked at further.
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Reports and proposed consultations from SLDC
Lake Admin update
Fees and charges for Windermere will be going to Lake Admin on the 7 October.
Dredging has been raised and discussed. It was asked where the 20 moorings will
be relocated from Aquatics, Mr Maguire didn’t think they would be relocated. In
effect the new permanent berths have replaced this mooring option.
Waterhead and Ferry Nab
The scheme has been finalised and procurement running to target. Tenders will
still be able to come ashore for short stays.
Action
Mr Maguire is looking to see if rings can be added to the retaining wall.
Glebe Foreshore Update
Details have not yet been finalized. Mrs Shaw asked if there will be formal
consultation on the development of the area between the Pump House and Lake
District Boat Club. Mr Maguire informed members that no decision has been made
on the landscape plans yet and that CCC has been leading on this. CCC is
managing the tendering process.
Action:
Mr Maguire to enquire what consultation has taken place on the
landscaping section.
Mr Hardman asked if consideration could be given to any speed humps that need
installing as boat trailers run low and this can cause a problem.
Mrs Shaw asked that WLUF be included in the consultation on the landscaping
area as this has been a major topic for some members for many years.
8.
There were no items of AOB and Mrs Shaw thanked all those who had contributed
to what had proved to be a very positive meeting. The meeting closed at 9.35pm
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Date of next meeting
Next meeting to take place on the 14 March 2016 at 6.00pm, venue to be
confirmed.