Swimmers at Frinton say they are being put in danger by nuisance water bikers and speedboats.

They have demanded slow-moving councillors find a solution before the summer season gets in to full swing.

At the moment, no buoyed safety channel has been put out to mark where boats can be safely launched this season, away from swimmers.

Tendring Council claims that it is waiting on a decision on whether to ban powered craft from using seafront launching ramps along the Tendring coast altogether. At Frinton, a potential ban is proving more difficult to instigate.

However, in the meantime, water bikers and speedboats are continuing to launch with no safety channel which swimmers say could be dangerous.

Possibilities being considered include employing someone to control access over the summer season or closing off the ramp. Another suggestion is banning those who break the byelaws.

But speedboat enthusiasts say it is not fair to penalise every enthusiast.

They agree a buoyed launching area into the sea should be installed while the debate continues, so swimmers are aware of the launch area.

Mike Page, spokesman for Tendring Council, said the channel had not been laid out this year because it had not been decided on how to resolve the ramp ban.

Published Monday, June 2, 2003

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