Outdated national park bylaws which ban the use of diesel and petrol powered boats on 20 smaller lakes and tarns in the Lake District look set to be amended next year to close a legal loophole.
The concern is that the 50-year-old bylaws have not kept up with advances in green technology or how an increasing number of visitors are spending their time on the water.
The rules, as decided in 1971 by the then Lake District Special Planning Board, prevent “power driven vessels” from being used on Bassenthwaite Lake, Buttermere, Crummock, Loweswater and Overwater, among others.
They came into force in 1974 to offer “peace and quiet” at 20 “lakes and tarns” across the national park, including Brotherswater, Grasmere, Rydal Wastwater, and a number of other tarns.
But the definition of powered vessel in the bylaws is only restricted to those with an “internal combustion engine only”.
The rule does not prevent the use of all-electric boats or electric-powered outboard motors, or even solar-powered craft, which are increasingly popular.
A report to national park members on Wednesday next week (December 13) has said that following the roll-out of electric-powered craft, there has been conflict on some of the smaller lakes between boaters and wild swimmers; another activity which has soared in popularity in recent years.
It states that injury to swimmers has been “narrowly avoided” so the bylaws need amending to be brought up to date.
The national park authority can prosecute anyone breaking the bylaws but an electric-powered user could contest that as the bylaw stands.
Landscape charity, the Friends of the Lake District, on behalf of the Campaign for Rural England (CPRE), started the process by asking the LDNPA to carry out an “urgent” review.
The move has been supported by the National Trust to ensure that the smaller lakes and their surrounds are “preserved for future generations”.
The hope is that by including electric-powered craft in the ban, and also restricting the size of craft used on the “smaller lakes” to a limit of 18ft, it will help encourage “greener” forms of lake use such as paddle boards, kayaks, canoes and sailing vessels, or pedal-powered craft.
The Environment Agency, which uses electric-powered craft, will be exempt from the amended bylaws if they are introduced.
A report, going to a meeting of the national park authority members next week, states: “The 1971 bylaws have not been reviewed since they came into effect and, bearing in mind changes in technology and the increased use of these smaller lakes, are outdated.”
Officers have drawn-up draft Lake District (Smaller Lakes) 2023 bylaws and will seek approval from national park members at the meeting in Kendal to start the process.
It will include a round of public consultations next year.
One risk is that if the proposed new bylaws are contested, the matter could then be settled at a costly public inquiry led by an inspector.
Private landowners with interests around the lakes could also object.
Power-driven vessels are allowed on the likes of Derwentwater, Coniston Water, Ullswater and Windermere, providing that they observe a 10 nautical miles per hour speed limit, unless the national park authority agrees to an exemption for special events.
Thirlmere and Haweswater, both owned by United Utilities, do not allow powered craft.
