LAUNCHES are down at a lake slipway - but the impending 10mph speed limit on Windermere cannot be blamed, say some district councillors.

Launches have dropped by around 25 per cent at Ferry Nab, on Windermere, according to a report to South Lakeland District Council's leisure and amenities services.

During the year to March 2000, 5,090 launches took place.

For the year up to March 2001, the number is predicted to be 3,760.

Cultural and tourism services manager Jim Walker said officers believed there was "a significant relationship" between the speed limit - which will take effect from 2005 - and the drop in launches.

However, some councillors felt other factors - such as poor weather, the strength of the pound and the price of fuel - were more to blame.

Coun Robin Yates said: "It seems to me they must be a very strange sort of person who sits at home with a speed boat and says, in five years' time I'm not going to be able to take my boat on Windermere, so I'm not going to go now.

People do not do that."

Coun Bob Barker said the Lakes had experienced a downturn in tourism along with the rest of Britain.

However, Coun Edward Robinson believed the drop in launches was connected to the speed limit, with fewer people buying boats, and bringing their craft up to Windermere.