Speaking to Dave yesterday about any contacts he'd had with the Council. Seems that they are going to impose the restrictions regardless of our opinion. They feel that they can do whatever they wish without the need for consultation. Fun times ahead, all the kitesurfers and windsurfers mixing together in a relativly small area. Any one got the number for that bloke selling the jet ski?



What are they going to do if we sail in the "forbidden zone", take our kit off us, slap our legs, most likely just ban all water sports completely.

Can you put up working email or even better the old postal system address's for us to write to and give our views.

At least if everyone who has contributed towards these forums regards kiting sends a letter to the same people we will be making a "club" effort to all this nasty business

Hi,



If you are having access problems regarding windsurfing on the sea it may be an idea to report this to the RYA. The RYA do have a legal department that would read your case and determine if there is anything 'wrong' going on. After all, part of the RYA motto is 'protecting the rights of water users'.



If you feel you need RYA assistance or advice first of all you should submit and email/letter to the Windsurfing department.



Hope you are all having fun. I just had three weeks in Tarifa! Was brilliant but my kiting came on more than my windsurfing as the wind was quite light!



Helen

Got my reply from DECG:



"Apologies for late (ish) reply to your emails to DECG due to staff holidays.



Firstly I'd like to point out that Richard Smith's report was written on

behalf of the Dee Estuary Voluntary Wardens and not by DECG.



A presentation was made to DECG by Richard highlighting the drop in wading

birds which he attributed in part to kitesurfing activities. He intended to

to submit the report to Wirral Borough Council asking that they initiate

discussions with kitesurfers about restricting areas to surf. DECG followed

that with their own letter to Wirral BC to support the view that

discussuions were needed to sort out the situation. A reply from Martyn

Jamieson (Adam King's boss) dated August 8th says that they 'will review

options open to the local authority and then liaise with appropriate bodies

- RSPB, English Nature, DEVW, DECG and, of course, Kitesurfers and

Canoeists'.



DECG hopes that these discussions will lead to a satisfactory solution but

our principal concern has to be to conserve and protect the wildlife of the

Estuary. I'm sure that you're all aware that the Estuary is designated at

the highest levels of conservation through European law (Special Protection

Area and proposed Special Area for Conservation) and UK law (SSSI) - hence

the necessary presence of English Nature at any discussions. These

designations reflect the internationally important bird populations on the

Estuary. DECG has been concerned at the fall in numbers of some key species

-principally Oystercatcher, Redshank and Curlew all of which can be affected

by leisure activities close to important wader roosts such as West Kirby,



Yours,



Neil Friswell



DECG Chairman"





Look forward to liasing with the council about this! (Don't hold your breath).



I have spoken to Adam King and expressed my concerns about the designated areas, and asked him if it would be possible to have at least a small channel running parallel with the islands in the shallower area (between the islands and the marsh area) for safety reasons. He said it wasn't worth it, and it would only be workable on certain wind directions. I explained once again for safetys sake, we needed it. His response "I don't have enough buoys." Shows what we're up against really.



Adam King has now left the Ranger Service to become a teacher, so we should now speak to Martyn Jamieson.



Another point that hit me yesterday, with respect to the report that counted birds and disturbances on Little Eye, surely you could only count the birds on Little Eye whilst actually on Little Eye or by some sort of hovering device above the island. Presuming the Voluntary Bird Wardens don't have such a craft they would have to be stationed on the island, thus causing disturbance?



Answers on a postcard, please.

Things seem to have gone quiet on this subject, however back in August I contacted the RYA regarding the matter. Today I recieved their responce. Its a positive one, but a bit long to post here. If anyone is still interested then I'll be happy to email it to them if they let me know.

Believe me , there is still a lot going on concerning the restrictions.

Myself and others have expressed concern over the lack of signs ,aimed at water users,that clearly identify the restricted areas and the possible outcome of repeated violations of these retrictions i.e, a call for a possible, total ban, for both WINDURFERS and KITESURFERS.

I'm sure that once educated ,most people will respect the restrictions.

Also there is a lot of interest in forming a club ,to give all Dee Estuary Sailors a chance to put their views across to the council/park ranger/Bird wacthers e.t.c.



I for one, would like to read the R.Y.A'S response.could you please send it to me on:

Dave.Rose@Shell.Com