National park officials say a speed limit is needed on the lake

A conservationist has been appointed to develop new leisure and businesses plans for Lake Windermere in Cumbria.

Carissa Lough from New Zealand has just taken up her new job as Windermere Project Officer for the Lake District National Park Authority.

She will draw up a new strategy for the lake, within the scope of the forthcoming controversial 10mph speed regulations.

The four busiest areas of Windermere have a 6mph limit, and from 29 March 2005 there will be a 10mph limit on the rest of the lake.

The move has angered water sports enthusiasts who have formed the Windermere Action Force (WAF) to put forward their case.

Ms Lough is an honours graduate in horticultural technology and business from Massey University in New Zealand, and has recently been teaching languages in Birmingham.

Visitor numbers

Prior to moving to the UK she worked for the New Zealand Fish and Game Council developing management plans for fish, lakes and the environment.

She said: "I'm used to managing the issues of the environment and of how we use our lakes.

"Some of the 13 lakes I looked after before were even larger than Windermere - but none of them had the visitor numbers we have here. That's the big difference I've noticed."

One of her tasks will be to draw up a public discussion document about the lake.

She will also co-ordinate the activities of the Joint Windermere Strategy Group consisting of representatives of the National Park Authority and South Lakeland District Council.

Local councillors and national park officials say the 10mph by-law is designed to stop fast power boats and jetskis taking over the famous inland water.