FEARS have been raised Shoebury could become “overrun” by jet ski driver after Southend Council voted to force all riders to launch from a single beach.
Under new rules for a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), jet skis will have to launch from Shoebury Common Slipway in Ness Road.
Residents have raised fears this could lead to increase anti-social jet ski riding in the area.
James Cunningham, 48, of St Andrews Road, said: “Every jet skier in south Essex will be looking to come to Shoebury and the area will be overrun.
“There are already a lot of close calls on the water with how many we have launching here already, you add more to the mix and you are bound to get more trouble makers.”
Peter Lovett, vice-chairman of Shoebury Residents Association, says he has faith Shoebury Common’s foreshore officers will do a good job managing any dangerous behaviours.
However, he admitted the area had been plagued by dangerous driving the past.
“You get idiots who come along quite close to the beaches at fast speeds,” he said.
“On a few occasions I have seen jet skis missing people by just a couple of feet which is very dangerous.”
Mr Lovett added that the consolidation of jet ski launches to just Shoebury Common could exacerbate existing capacity issues.
He said: “One problem we have had, is that on a really busy day queues can form along Ness Road at as it takes quite some time to launch each vehicle.”
The PSPO, which will enforced by Essex Police’s Marine Unit, will also introduce a raft of rules for drivers, limiting their conduct within a restricted zone stretching approximately one mile out to sea.
The order asserts drivers must not act in a manner which causes “a risk to the safety of people, wildlife, or property” or cause “alarm and distress”.
Vehicles will not be allowed to be “modified” and all users (including passengers) must be over the age of 17.
Jet skis must not be driven withing 400 metres of a berth, jetty, public beach, bathing place or residential property and must not be used within 400 metres of Southend pier.
The vehicles will be restricted to 8 knots within the launch lane either and “must not ride the wakes of other vessels”.
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