Heres my letter. Just realised that I forgot to mention about northerly winds being spoilt by any new high buildings in the carpark. Maybe some could mention this in another letter?


Dear Sara

Thank you for you invitation to brief you on details of our windsurfing requirments. I'm pleased that you are trying to understand how are sport works. Our main concerns are that are much loved sailing spot could be altered to an extent that speed windsurfing would no longer be viable at Marine lake. Hopefully we can cast some light on what our needs are.

I am one of around 200 regular windsurfers at Marine Lake. Mention West Kirby Marine lake to any windsurfer around the world, and they immediatly tell you that Marine Lake is world class venue for windsurf speed sailing. The lake has a speed sailing history that spans back to over 20-years ago. We get speed sailors visting the lake on a regular basis, and they travel from as far away as Europe on a regular basis. Windsurfing legends and champions still sail here on a regular basis as there is no where else in the UK that can match the lake for pure quality.

The foot path that runs between the lake and the River Dee is refered to as the wall, in a westerly wind, the wall give a 500meter down wind run on glassy flat water. Heres a short video clip to show you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUYZJ-zAdr8

See this _link_ to see how popular speed windsurfing has become. http://www.gps-speedsurfing.com/gps.asp

The lake is also very popular with Free_style_ windsurfers who relish in the flat water conditions.

There are a few basic ingredients to help retain Marine lake as a world class windsurfing venue for speed or free_style_, they are:

1. No jettys to be built along the wall. (This will prevent us from sailing along the wall)

2. No railings, lamps or obsticals along the wall. (This will interfer with the wind)

3. carpark not reduced in size. (On a good windy day, the car park is already at max capacity)

4. Existing jetties on the north end not to be increased in length. (Better for freestlye windsurfers)

Access to the lake whilst building work is being carried out would be vital as many local windsurfers only sail at the lake. Although there will be many other general improvments on the windsurfers wish list, these are at the very least, are basic requirments. Hopefully these few points will give you a better insite into our chosen sport.

Yours truly

Mark Hayford

P.S. If you ever need windsurf lessons, dont hesitate to ask.

Sara has been good enough to reply to one of our emails. Heres what she said.



Dear Mark,

Thank you, very much, for communicating with such conviction what's important about your sport. I'll pass your comments to the directors and the architect.

The last thing we want to do is reduce wind speeds on the lake, or detract from your enjoyment of it. We actually aim to reflect its world class stature in its surroundings, and that premise underpins our proposal.

Please would you keep talking to us? The public consultation follows shortly and lake users will feature strongly. I've said to another windsurfer that I don't think the lake or your sport are properly understood in West Kirby, and that it's in everyone's interests that we address that: it's something to be hugely proud of. And lastly, do you mind if I quote you?

Thanks again.

Best wishes

Sarah
PS Re the windsurfing lessons... not sure it's for me, but you make a very strong case. Thanks!

Here is the reply I recieved from the Developers,Sarah.

Dear Alan

Thank you very much for making such a great case for the marine lake. I've said to several windsurfers who replied to my post that it has always been our intention to create an environment which reflects the world class stature of the lake. Without input of this kind, that would be harder to achieve.

Without wishing to repeat myself (I realise many of you must speak to each other about this), what has come out of our work so far is that the value and significance of the lake do not seem to be fully understood by many of West Kirby's residents and visitors. Yet it's at the heart of the town, in every sense, and an issue we are trying to address.

There will be a period of public consultation shortly, when lake users will be consulted. I hope you don't mind if I contact you again and, lastly, may I quote you? I don't need to use your name, if you would prefer not.

Thanks again. Please keep talking to us.

Best wishes

Sarah.
------------------------------------------------------

This is my reply to her.

Hello Sarah

Yes that would be fine to contact me, quote me or use my name, as long as it is to put forward the windsurfers point of view.

I've got to take issue with Sarahs comments, what bulls**t of course the residents and visitors value the marine lake, that's why the the Dee Lane car park is full every weekend, even in the winter, and why many residents have chosen to live here. It's the council who don't not value the facilities, that's why the wall is collapsing and the sailing school is so run down. They are too busy dreaming up oppurtinies for developers rather than securing proper funding to make the marine lake the world class location that it should be. They don't even encouage events, such as speed week.

I want to see better facilities, however this development will face massive opposition from the local residents. There needs to be a plan B, due to the unique nature of the lake surley there must be other ways of funding this, what about the sports council, flood defenses, NWDA and even Morrisions?

Do you know that the coucil plan to implement herring bone parking on the prom, may be even pay and display. This could be spent directly on the marine lake, if the existing parking is preserved. In the future if you just one a trip out on the tide without paying for licence fees then there will be knowhere to park.

I think that these developers have not got a clue, their inital suggestions included an Ampitheatre on the car park to allow the pulic to watch regattas. If they had any local knowlege they would know that this would be washed away on the first big storm of the year, and the sailing club operates from the opposite end of the lake. They should have briefed the Architects.

Sorr if this sounds like a bit of a rant, but this development is only the tip of the iceberg, there are other plans being considered to pedestrianise Grange Road and put in a one way system. If this happens then there will be massive queues just to get the lake in the first place.

I realise that everyone has an opinion, but think that Sarah's comments show that they are out of tune with public opinion. By the way which PR agency does she work for?

Here's my questions for Sarah

a) It is clear from the plans that this existing buildings will be replaced, however will the new facilities match those that are already available (Sounds stupid but the Crosby marine lake development has excluded the existing windsurfing shop) ?

b) What extra new facilities are being provided to Marine Lake users and the General Public, on the Marine Lake site?

c) Of the 10 million investment how much is being spent on the Sailing School/Marine lake?

d) Will the marine lake facilities still be owned by the council?

e) As a matter of interest will the lifeboat be moving?

As a suggestion I would like to see the Width of the lake increased to allow greater use on Southerlies and Notherlies.

Can you please reply directly to this forum.

Robbie - you really need to chill

I want the lake to be at least preserved (not made worse) for windsurfing and hopefully the facilities improved.
So far Sarah Beer has asked for feedback and taken the time to reply individually to everyone who mailed her - and like I said a quick google suggests the firm are a local building/development company not an arup or bovis and that Sarah is related to one of the partners.

Now I'm as cynical as anyone when it comes to promises and developments but the only way windsurfers will get a hearing is to show how many of us there are (locals and visitors) and communicate what we want in a business like way - pointing out where we can how the improvements we want will benefit the development. Attacking the developers in open forum just makes us look self interested and opposed to change.

You may be right that the developers "haven't got a clue" - about windsurfing. So lets tell them what will work and what wont