RESTRICTIVE policies on moorings and jetties could be relaxed on Windermere under a new lake management policy that comes into force in January next year, reports Andy Bloxham.

And the possibility of new jetties and bigger boats on the lake is already attracting the interest of waterside businesses.

Tony Rothwell, of Shepherds boat retailers in Windermere, said deep-keel sailing boats, larger than most already on the lake, would be attracted by better jetties. And he added that he was "pretty sure" that boats were going to get bigger.

More jetties could also be built if ideas to increase the number of ferries on the lake bore fruit.

Mr Rothwell was speaking during a meeting of the Windermere Consultative Committee to open discussions on the lake's future to all interested parties.

The committee has produced a list of questions to ask anyone with an interest in the lake on how they think it should be run after a 10mph speed limit comes into force in March 2005.

The ideas will be used to help draft a comprehensive policy on the lake's operation to replace the 23-year-old Windermere Management Plan.

Some ideas for the future of the lake already put forward include a water taxi ferrying more visitors around the lake, a cyclepath around its perimeter, and improving public rights-of-way around the shoreline.

At the meeting, David Calway, of Cumbria Tourist Board, asked whether businesses had been given enough advice about the changing business conditions the speed limit would bring.

Clarissa Lough, of South Lakeland District Council, who helped to compile the questions on the lake's future, said the council had talked the changes through with a number of speedboat-associated businesses.

However, Mr Rothwell said the speed limit would force firms to make big changes in the way they operated: "It's like asking a Ford dealership to start selling mountain bikes."

Around 9,000 shortened versions of the full consultation document will now be sent out to parish councils, boating groups, businesses and individuals to gather as many ideas as possible before the end of consultation on March 19.