Sir, We don't need larger boats on Windermere.

I read with interest the article on the push for new jetties to accommodate larger boats (Gazette, July 30, Hoteliers angry with sails' pitch blockage'). To attract more boats I can appreciate, but not more larger ones, they take too much space and won't add to numbers of drinkers or diners.

I have just noticed a relatively enormous sailing cruiser near the ferry, the sort that could cruise the Med or cross the North Sea, and wonder if such a size is practical on this lake.

Getting it get here is one problem, getting worthwhile sailing is another. Is this a case of big fish in a small pond? Are these real sailors, or second home owners contributing little to local business? Too many such craft will be detrimental.

Has anyone appreciated that large sailing cruisers will increase the congestion in restricted areas and, with a deeper draught, may not be able to negotiate the narrows around Belle Isle?

The waters of Bowness Bay have been extremely muddy this season due, we are told, to the dredging out of the jetty areas for them - this could become a constant feature and be harmful to the health of the lake. Where has all this material been put? Just dumping in deeper water causes problems too.

In a lake about 11 miles long and under a mile at its widest, not only is there not much scope for a sea-going vessel but under sail these vessels pose some threat to smaller boats. Not only do they need more space to manoeuvre but in light winds they blanket others, while in strong winds their wash will cause as much of a problem as motorboats As a small dinghy sailor, I already find that some of these are manned by people who assume size' has right of way. I recently took a novice out for a sail and was horrified when a large sailing cruiser bore down on us and immediately rounded head to wind to take down sail, directly in front of us.

It is clearly time that the Lake Management planned for size regulations designed differentially for private vessels and those steamers commercially carrying passengers around the lake. All boats, and especially the larger ones, need to appreciate their effect on others and the necessity to adhere to rights of way on the lake to prevent accidents.

I also hope that the members of the Planning Committee properly appreciate the use of jetties by sailing craft; although sailing cruisers can motor to a berth, small dinghies like mine are restricted to the leeward side (as I find to my cost) - and a line of cosy cruisers' blocking access to your jetty doesn't help either!

E.Y. Haworth Troutbeck Bridge Sir, I read with great sympathy, but sadly no surprise, the attitude of the Lake District National Park Authority towards the requests from local hoteliers for modifications to adapt with the impending speed limit on Windermere.

As you have published in my previous letters, we all have to realise their ultimate objective of turning the Lake District National Park into a World Heritage Site.

The ban is not simply an attack on speed boats, it is and detailed in their own reports 10 years ago, part of their movement to meet this inappropriate ideal.

We will see, as we already have with the proposed 4x4 ban, more and more movements over the coming years towards turning the area into one large museum, with the only movement being the sheep, as long as they cannot run at more than 10mph that is.

We all, including yourselves, the local press, need to stop seeing and reporting each of their attacks or blockages as individual events, but as part of a much larger onslaught of their ultimate and public aim of creating a World Heritage Site.

Sadly we will continue to see many blockages and attempts to remove what they, in their infinite wisdom, deem to be unsuitable developments.

Put simply, this particular case of additional or modification to jetties is naturally against their plans, as yes they have removed power boats but they do not want them replacing with other larger craft.

Speed is not their single issue - if it does not fit into a World Heritage Site, they will not allow it.

Steve Kitchen Levens