Historic powerboating lake will play host this Nov
Records Week will take place on Coniston Water this year from 5-9 November.
The Lake District National Park Authority have given organisers permission to hold the popular event after today’s LDNPA annual meeting in Kendal heard that in the two previous years there had been “no adverse impacts” in the Coniston area on visitors, village life or the landscape.
Monitoring suggested that noise from high-powered boats taking part of the powerboats was very short-term, temporary and “has minimal impact”.
Up to 50 boats will compete individually over a measured one kilometre course in the centre of the lake, trying to break speed records – some in excess of 100 mph – in a variety of classes and categories.
A warm up area will also be established on the lake opposite the launch venue at Coniston Boating Centre.
It will be the third year Coniston had acted as host after the traditional Windermere event needed to find a new home following the introduction of the 10 mph speed limit on the lake in March 2005.
Coniston’s existing byelaws – unlike Windermere’s – permit speeds in excess of 10 mph if lake users are taking part in genuine national or world speed record attempts, and if they apply to the LDNPA.
A report from LDNPA Recreation Management Adviser Carissa Lough outlined that although there were a few on-going concerns about noise levels, the general feeling was that Records Week makes a favourable contribution to the economy and the local community.
“There is support from Coniston residents and businesses to hold another Speed Records Week on Coniston in 2007, with most residents and businesses being positive about future Records Week events on the lake.
“There is concern about the noise generated by boats making speed record attempts. But noise readings taken in 2005 and 2006 indicated that noise from speed record runs was temporary and not significantly different to normal background noise levels,” the report added.
