Crackdown on speed limit protestors

Ten-mile-an-hour opponents were also warned that a similarly tough stance would be taken against any further "personal attacks" on park authority chairman Michael Bentley.

The tough talk came at a meeting of the LDNPA's implementation committee where registration fees on Windermere were discussed.

Members urged officers to clarify how the contentious speed restriction - due to take force after Easter 2005 would be policed.

LDNPA's corporate operations director Bob Cartwright told the meeting three protesters were already facing court action following recent demonstrations on Coniston Water where a 10mph limit already exists.

He added the authority would continue to work with police to combat further protests.

"We know from experience that the majority of people are law abiding and we haven't had problems in enforcing existing by-laws in the past," he said. "We know there is a small handful of people who are determined to break the law.

"In dealing with this minority group we have already successfully worked with the police and we will continue with this approach."

Parish council representative Helen Jones, who led the support for authority chairman Michael Bentley, said: "I am exasperated by the inability of the protesters to understand the role of the chairman. He has been subjected to very, very abusive comments.

"All of us have a vote here and his doesn't stand for any more or less. Why can't the protesters understand that to single out the chairman is pointless. The chairman can't, and never has been, able to overturn the collective will of the members."

Members, who also agreed to increase registration fees for the 6,384 power driven vessels on Windermere, warned sports boat owners and jet-skiers who used the lake in the few days over Easter prior to the by-law being enforced would still need to pay a full year's registration fee.

However, Tony Kemp, of Windermere Action Force, who defended the group's attacks on the LDNPA chairman, said the authority's tough talk coupled with registration increases had merely added "fire to the belly" of their campaign.

"We will continue our action until the park opens the door to a reasoned discussion that lets all users continue to share Windermere, but with a sensible 30mph limit to allow safe water skiing in a managed environment."

He branded the new registration fees which single out powered users a "stealth tax" and a further bid to rid the lake of those who participates in powered watersports.

The annual fee for vessels under 7.5kw will be upped from £5.50 to £6, 7.5kw to 60kw will rise from £26 to £30 and over 60kw will go up from £42 to £50.

Authority chiefs also made it clear they had no intention of changing their stance on the by-law. LDNPA corporate development director Tony Woolfe said this could only be done through a lengthy and costly public inquiry that could take years and cost millions.