Views sought on loch water crafts

Loch Lomond is popular with boating enthusiasts

Opinions are being sought on how to regulate boating and jet skiing activities on Loch Lomond.

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is likely to bring in restrictions but first it wants to hear the views of everyone involved with the loch.

The waters attract a wide variety of craft, including jet skis, cruisers and sailing boats.

Present by-laws limit speeds on the loch to just under 60mph, with much tighter limits close to the shore.

However, the park authority believes it is time the speeds were reviewed.

On Friday, two public consultations were launched, the first being a wide-ranging review of the by-laws which have operated on the loch since 1996.

More than 6,000 questionnaires are being mailed directly to the groups and individuals know to use Loch Lomond and there will be further meetings with special interest groups and other agencies.

Noise study

The authority said the responses to the consultation would inform the proposals for any changes to the by-laws that would then go through a formal legal process and final confirmation by the Scottish Executive.

The proposals should come before ministers by the end of this year and be in place by summer 2006.

In the coming season, the authority will also conduct a noise study, continue to monitor registrations and make sure current speed restrictions are adhered to.

Jet-ski users have been described as "a bit anti-social"

The second consultation will be over a new by-law to regulate the increasing use of Loch Lomond by seaplanes.

Gillie Thomson, from the park authority, said: "It's very important to base any new proposals for regulating the craft on Loch Lomond on sound information so we need to hear from as wide a range of users and other interested parties as possible."

The Loch Lomond Association represents the vast majority of water users although jet skiers have found themselves out on a limb.

The association's chairman Jim MacDonald said: "I have to say that 99% of our members would like to see jet skis not used in a national park.

"It is a fact, regrettably, that because of the nature of the machine it does make more noise and it is more intrusive.

"The kind of people who frequently are users can be a bit anti-social."

More information on the consultations can be accessed by logging on to the authority's website.