Proposed speed enforcement on Loch Lomond!

[Tower_boy]

I know this is not the ideal place and i apologise to anyone not bothered by this, if thats you please don't flame... just move on. Those that have 20 seconds to spare and a passion for preserving wakeboarding and safe fun on a lake.. please read on.
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I have just read and signed the petition: "SAY NO TO AN UNNECCESSARY LAW ON LOCH LOMOND"

We are trying to reach 5000 signatures, and we need
YOUR HELP!

Please help by signing this petition which aims to protect the future of
recreation on Loch Lomond and prevent yet another piece of unneccessary
legislation calling for a speed limit which will wipe out boarding/skiing/fast boating on the lake!

It takes 30 seconds and will really help if you can spare the time. Please follow this

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/236486178


Thank you!

[plainjames]

What a bunch of tossers these law makers are!

[WeeStu]

This has been coming for a while. Totally ridiculous, there are loads of boats registered on the loch but the proportion of those that use them regularly is small & the loch is 26 miles long for fecks sake can a compromise not be found?

I have seem some stupid driving close to shore but this could be solved, or improved, by a licence or user agreement for the loch users that they could create a nominal charge for? If it does get imposed me and my mates will be "doing a Windemere" and ignoring it. Fight the Power :!:

[saltwater_cowboy]

Done.

Never rode there and unlikely too but I know what I'd be like if someone took my water away!

[scary]

I know this is going to get me plenty grief 8O but here goes....

(All quotes taken from here:
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=714392005 )

A little perspective here, if you please: The lock is almost 30 kms long and the proposed ban is going to cover "one third of Loch Lomond under proposals to extend a 7mph speed limit". The aim of the ban is to "help protect the loch's islands and sensitive areas, along with major shallow areas which are important for vegetation and breeding fish".

"In the place of jet-skis and motorboats, quiet recreation such as windsurfing would be encouraged, the authority said in a statement. "Speed restriction is a practical method for protecting sensitive areas, separating recreation activity and reducing the impact on loch shore users,"

As it stands I can't see how this is going to significantly affect wakeboarding on the lake. The Loch is massive and, at worst, you're going to spend a little more time and fuel getting to a part of it to ride on than otherwise. In return for an attempt to maintain the beautiful surroundings of the Loch you should be greatful that they haven't 'Done a Windermere' on you and instituted a Nazi-style absolute ban. This attempt to accomodate ALL water users is exactly what this legislation is about- if you are a rower or a windsurfer you are certainly not going to be a fan of wakeboats churning out 3ft of swell where you are trying to pursue your pastime!

Furthermore, wakeboats do not appear to be the main instigation for this change in legislation. The above article states that "loud motor crafts, particularly jet-skis, had scared off canoeists, windsurfers and picnickers". They added: "We talked to over 1000 visitors and a lot of people said the loch was noisy and a lot said there were too many jet-skis on the loch. The main problem around here is jet-skis, so to have an extended speed limit in the centre of the loch, that's fair comment."

Call me biased but Jetskis seem to be a major problem on whatever stretch of water you ride on- jumping your wake, following riders dangerously close behind (this REALLY gets my back up), generally trying to race you and cut you up. If any of you surf and have had the misfortune to have one of these 'No Fear warriors' buzzing around you through the breakers then you will know what complete lunatics they are with no regard for anyone else who shares the water with them- I have seen them doing doughnuts around fishermen in a little dory before speeding off out of sight.

Sorry for the long post but I wanted to put a different perspective on this before everyone starts slating tree-huggers and ramblers and everyone else under the sun.

Scary

[plainjames]

No grief dude, opinions don't deserve grief.

I am all for preservation (my gran is 89), I love trees and water and dunes and islands but who will fly close enough to the islands for the wake to damage them.

I'm sure that Jet-Ski's are the main problem with the noise, I think that if we were all more caring and considerate towards what everyone else is doing it would be cool! Don't zoom near other lake users (again it's huge), don't blast tunes where people are chilling on nice quiet beaches.

I just think it's OTT, why not put in a 25 mph limit?

J