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Dovercourt: Death fears over jet skis

12:00pm Friday 23rd July 2010


MAJOR concerns have been raised that jet skis “roaring” along the coast are “a fatality waiting to happen”.

Councillors are calling for riders to either obey the rules on the water at Dovercourt Bay or face being banned.

Jet skis have been reported riding too close to the promenade and the two lighthouses when families are swimming.

And there are warnings that the problem is only increasing.

Residents have remained quiet about the problem because they fear the reprisals from the jet ski owners.

A retired Dovercourt resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “It’s incredibly dangerous.

“They are showing off right where families and children are swimming.

“Kids all swim out to the outer lighthouse but the problem is that’s where these jet skis go round.

“It really is an accident waiting to happen.”

Official guidelines state the jet skis should be launched from the slipway before immediately being taken out passed the yellow buoys.

But gangs of the machines are staying far too close to shore.

The fears were raised at a meeting of Harwich Town Council on Wednesday night.

Garry Calver, town councillor, said: “This is an emergency situation.

“And is getting much worse, not better.

“Quite simply it’s not only an accident waiting to happen it’s a fatality.

“If a roaring jet ski strikes a child there’s only going to be one outcome.

“They are coming in extremely close to the light house and the promenade which is outside the rules and totally unnaceptable.

“I think the time has come to make sure the guidelines are properly adhered to or jet skis are banned.

“I don’t want that to happen but if we have to choose between that and the life of a child there is no contest.”


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Your Say YourHarwich

Mr Anory. Jack, Tendring says...
9:25am Mon 26 Jul 10

Councillor Calver,
let the jetskis obey guidlines, or ban them.
Dont give choices, you and your council are charged with protecting your communities.
If I was an evil man, I would use a jet boat, then blow away the offending jetskiers with the high powered jetwash, to teach `em a lesson, make them feel inferiour or at as much at risk as a swimmer does.
Big power boating festival coming soon? send the powerboats accross the tiny jetskis,
just for fun of course.
Harwich Town council IS in control we take it, on all matters of safety,
or is one tiny pocket of out of control fools going to ruin Harwich`s big event.

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Kevin Pullen, Marks Tey says...
12:38pm Tue 27 Jul 10

As a responsable PWC user who helps run the club based at Martello Bay in Clacton one of the largest in the UK with over 50 members working hand in hand with the TDC beach front officer, I find some of the comments on hear highly inflammatory, is attempting to jetwash a person afloat any less reprihensable than the behaviuor of a few mindless people who do not obey the TDC bye laws? It is for the authorities to ensure members of the public using the slipway obey the rules and if they are broken to prohibit them from launching. Any powered vehicle is capabale of causing harm in the wrong hands. Not neccessarily a "fatality" waiting to happen this is just sccre mongering and alarmist

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Mr Anory. Jack, Tendring says...
3:08pm Tue 27 Jul 10

Mr Pullen, I have seen your well ordered clubsmen obey the given offshore rules, but, not all PWC users are either in your club, nor are restricted to club discipline, whereas,
"Harwich Town council IS in control we take it, on all matters of safety,
or is one tiny pocket of out of control fools going to ruin Harwich`s big event."
My comments still remain.
The safety of waterborn people comes even before your clubs members enjoyment, or is that wrong?
Have you ever seen a busy weekend in St.Osyth`s @ Hutleys foreshore, with the weekend cowboys acting in a manor to endanger swimmers along the coastline? of having family on various local beaches being jetwashed by cowboy jetskiers?
I an ideal society, we would need no rules, but only common sence.
Alas, common sence seems to be missing in at least St. Osyth and Harwich areas this year.

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Kevin Pullen, Marks Tey says...
4:45pm Tue 27 Jul 10

You are quite right not all people are as responsible as our club members, I personnally would not launch at a site which was not well controlled, but do not like the way that people call for blanket bans due to a mindless minority and am fed up with being tarred with the same brush. Those that do not wish to be responsible and abide by rules will go somewhere that they do not have to as unfortunatley appears to be happening in Dovercourt and Harwich. In the 6 years that we have been running the club we have only had to ask 4 people to leave the club our membership has always been in excess of 50 people and in 2 years exceeded 100.

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Mr Anory. Jack, Tendring says...
12:05am Wed 28 Jul 10

Well done Kevin and thankyou for your reply.
I often watch the fun your club gives to onshore spectators.
Good luck for your clubs future too.
Question, why not enter a float in "local" carnivals, to promote your club, it`s aims, and it`s code of conduct with flyers and signs on the float.
A nice seadoo, on a trailer, decorated with a theme would look great.
Four of them on an artic lorry trailor would look even better, plus music, dancing girls etc.
Clactons is soon I believe, so is Waltons!
Fantastic way to promote your club as both carnivals are right on the coast.

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angel77, Harwich says...
2:16pm Fri 30 Jul 10

Councillor Calver's comments are a disgrace there is an obvious problem of 1 or 2 idiots spoiling the fun for others here yet instead of looking at sensible rational ways to ensure everybody is safe in the water he has chosen to make a "stupid" if you cant beat them better them comment that is totally unacceptable while do they not get all jetskiers to register with the coastgaurd of which on issue they will be given a copy of the rules then if they are caught involved in horseplay then they need to be banned its as simple as that I walked down the beach the weekend and spoke with the skiers who were very sensible and very approachable they made the most valid point of all so far when they stipulated that no signs were visable anywhere in the launching area warning swimmers of the danger of craft launching. This in itself is the most danger to children!!!!! The attitude of get a bigger craft could cause a massive problem to life as judging by the vehicles these skiers can afford im sure high powered boats would not be out of reach antagonising these people is not the way forward we must fish out the idiots and let all sensible people enjoy the great beach we have

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