Marker buoys are being reinstated at several Island beaches this summer in a bid to protect swimmers from anti-social behaviour on the water.
Work is due to start next week to install 16 marker buoys off Bembridge, Yaverland, Sandown, Lake and Shanklin, and a further 4 buoys and a launching lane at Colwell and Totland Bay.
The move follows a rise last summer in complaints of anti-social behaviour on the water, including jet ski use, resulting in Hampshire Police’s Marine Support Unit launching Operation Wavebreaker to tackle the issues.
Councillor Jonathan Bacon, the council’s Cabinet member responsible for beaches, said regulating safe areas for bathing would provide a welcome boost to beach safety. He said:
“The mixing of powered craft among swimmers is a recipe for disaster.
“Beaches form an essential part of Island life, supporting the local economy through tourism and jobs. We need them to be safe places that everyone can enjoy.”
The distinctive orange marker buoys have been bought by the Isle of Wight Council, but it’s thanks to the support of local town and parish councils that the scheme has been made possible.
Sandown Town Council, Lake Parish Council, Shanklin Town Council, Bembridge Parish Council and Totland Parish Council have all agreed to fund the annual installation costs as part of a 5-year partnership with the Isle of Wight Council.
Councillor Bacon added:
“I very much want to thank our town and parish councils for their support — we simply couldn’t have done it without them.
“As a new council, we have been very clear that we want to work more collaboratively with our town and parish councils to bring about community improvements, and this is a great example.”
Though not possible this year, from 2022 the buoys will be deployed in early May and removed again in September with the work being undertaken by local contractors, Cowes Harbour Services.
Earlier this year, the council approved a Beach Management Strategy Framework which, among other actions, would look at other authorities and see whether it is feasible to implement an Island-wide policy on personal watercraft.
Good. The idiots on the jet skis could kill swimmers. Let’s hope they adhere to the buoys. Who is going to oversee they do? What will the consequences be if they don’t?
God only knows we don’t want accidents whilst surfin….I get around our beaches a lot so wouldn’t it be nice if we all have fun fun fun…we don’t need heroes & villains on our beaches
I’ll stay in my room thanks all the same.
What about Ryde beach, it is plagued at the weekends with cretins on jet skies coming close inshore, the problem is there is no available manpower to enforce these restrictions and given the intelligence of the average rider they will just be ignored.
This is excellent news. I’ve seen these in Totland Bay and Colwell Bay and you can’t miss them.
I did however film a speed boat with an adult male and a young toddler in it the other day speeding on the inside of the buoys markers in Totland Bay over the last weekend, so I guess you’ll always have the odd window licker who has no clue what these maritime markers actually mean! Let’s hope his toddler doesn’t grow up as dumb as his dad!
However generally speaking these are definitely working, and over the years to come will be nothing but a positive for families and swimmers enjoying our beaches safely.
Well-done to all involved.