Jet ski owners oppose calls for speed restrictions

A ban has been introduced in the Lake District and Friday marks the end of a three-month consultation on changing the loch's by-laws.

Some anglers are calling for a 10 miles per hour speed restriction across the loch.

But waterskiers say draconian speed curbs would force them to leave a location they have enjoyed for decades.

Sailors want separate zones and say the quieter sports are being forced off the loch by the powercraft.

Ian Cosgrove, of the Loch Lomond Sailing Club, said: "Our solution is a zoning approach whereby you dedicate a part of the loch where jet skiers can enjoy their recreation without any real problems."

There's a lot of family groups out here who enjoy the loch, enjoy jet skiing and they're responsible and safe users of the loch George Thomson Jet ski instructor

Those opposed to a ban claim previous by-laws confined them to too few areas.

Boat owners say they are doing no harm and slowing them down would create more wash not less.

And George Thomson, a jet ski instructor on the loch, said enthusiasts were not as big a problem as people made out.

Mr Thomson said: "There's a lot of family groups out here who enjoy the loch, enjoy jet skiing and they're responsible and safe users of the loch."

But the Loch Lomond Angling Association claims there is a "huge proportion" of jet bikers who "couldn't care less" for other loch users.

Windsurfers would like to see quieter waters

Anglers want a blanket speed ban of 10 mph, but waterskiers say that would push them off the loch.

Loch Lomond Waterskiers Association spokesman Dougie Lambie said the pastime was a family sport which had been going on for decades.

He said: "We feel the bylaws are unbalanced, there's too many areas that are unbalanced, the southern half of the loch has only two areas we can ski in."

The Loch Lomond National Park Authority is legally obliged to draw up new by-laws for a loch to cater for everyone who wishes to use it.

It hopes to have a solution by next spring.