Coniston Byelaws

New Coniston Byelaws 2020 are now signed and came into effect on 16 January 2021

The Coniston Byelaw Changes details the process of consultation and adoption of the new byelaws

See the process for a Coniston byelaw exemption

Apply for a one time exemption from the Coniston byelaws online

1. These Byelaws may be cited as “the Lake District Coniston Water Byelaws 2020”
2. The Byelaws shall be applicable to the lake known or commonly known by the name of Coniston Water.
3. In these Byelaws the following words and expressions have the meanings hereby ascribed to them respectively:
   • (a) the word “Lake” means the lake specified in Byelaw 2 above and all waters, other than rivers, connected therewith navigable by vessels;
   • (b) the word “Vessel” includes every description of watercraft, used or capable of being used on or beneath water and includes a flying boat  and any other aircraft designed to manoeuvre on water;
   • (c) the term “Power Driven Vessel” means any vessel propelled by machinery;
   • (d) every power driven vessel which is under sail and not under power is considered a sailing vessel; and every vessel under power, whether under sail or not, is to be considered a Power Driven Vessel;
   • (e) except as hereinbefore otherwise provided words and expressions to which a special meaning is assigned by the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and the Countryside Act 1968, have respectively the same meanings in these Byelaws as they have in the said Acts.
4. Save as hereinafter provided no person shall use any Power Driven Vessel on the Lake at a speed exceeding 10 miles per hour.
5. The use of a Power Driven Vessel in circumstances necessary to the performance of his duty by the following person, that is to say:
   (a) a police officer;
   (b) an officer of a water authority;
   (c) a person or servant of any person employed by or acting with the authority of the Lake District National Park Authority; or
   (d) any person taking part in rescue operation or in securing the safety of persons engaging in lawful activities on the Lake
   
   or the use of a Power Driven Vessel by any person to whom the Authority has given permission under the provisions of byelaw 6, either individually or collectively through another organisation and subject to such conditions as the Authority sees fit,
   shall not be deemed an offence against these byelaws.
6. The Authority may give permission to nominated individuals or organisations from time to time to navigate Power Driven Vessels in specified parts of the Lake in excess of the speed limits specified in Byelaw 4 and may impose conditions subject to which any permission is granted.
7. Failure to comply with any condition imposed pursuant to Byelaw 6 shall constitute a breach of Byelaw 4.
8. Nothing contained in these Byelaws shall be deemed to extinguish any public right of way over the Lake.
9. Any person offending against any of the foregoing Byelaws shall be liable of summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale.
10. The Lake District Coniston Byelaws 2010 shall be repealed from the date on which these Byelaws shall come into effect.

Given under the common seal of the Lake  District National Park Authority this 16 day of December 2020

Executed as a deed by affixing the Common Seal of Lake District National Park Authority in the presence of:
Richard Leafe Chief Executive

The foregoing byelaw(s) are confirmed by the Secretary of State and shall come into operation on the 16 day of January 2021.