The biggest marina on Windermere is calling for the 10mph speed limit on England’s longest lake to be lifted in the week of its fifth anniversary.

This week, marks five years since a 10mph restriction was brought in – banning water-skiing, jet-skiing and power boating on the 10.5 mile long lake. Windermere was the only lake left in the whole of the Lake District where power-boating and water-skiing could take place.

Jason Dearden, Managing Director, runs Windermere Marina Village on the edge of the lake near Bowness, which is home to over 400 boat owners and draws visitors from the North West, North East and Cumbria, as well as around 11,000 visitors a year staying at its lakeside cottages and apartments. It is the biggest and most sheltered Marina on Windermere, and the largest in the whole of the North.

He believes a relaxation of the 2005 ban or a commitment to rethink it by the Lake District National Park Authority this year, would be a welcome gesture to tourism around the Lake following the floods, as well as assisting in the area’s economic recovery. He also thinks that representations should be made to review the 10mph byelaw if there’s a change of Government after the general election.

One of the major reasons the ban was brought in was to reduce “conflict” between different types of people using the lake and make the lake more tranquil. Mr Dearden believes Windermere is large enough to have a scheme which allows room for all types of waterborne activities – sailors, power-boaters, canoers and water-skiers – sharing the water harmoniously.

Windermere Marina Village, a family-owned tourism business, is close to completing a £3 million upgrade of the Marina and taking bookings again for the new tourism season. Following the floods of last year, the water level of the lake rose 10 feet – swamping the Marina’s 29 ground level Windermere cottages meaning holiday cancellations.

The Marina employs around 55 people and its 11,000 annual guests use local restaurants, shops, cafes and visitor attractions, making it a significant contributor to the local economy of Bowness and Windermere.

Grove Cottages is a self catering holiday cottage accommodation business based near Ambleside, and has been selected as one of three finalists in the category for Self Catering Holiday of the Year in the 2010 Cumbria Tourism Awards.

The awards ceremony will take place at the Rheged Centre, Penrith, on Tuesday 11th May 2010 and will be hosted by sometime professional northerner Stuart Maconie – journalist, Radio 2 DJ, TV presenter and champion of all things Cumbrian. 260 guests will be present to hear the winners of 15 categories announced.

The Cumbria Tourism Awards celebrate the best of Cumbria’s tourism businesses and the talented individuals behind them. Their hard work and dedication drive an economy worth over £1 billion. The size of business is not a factor, whether small or large it is about offering something special or outstanding and really supporting Cumbria and the Lake District.

Grove Cottages owners Andrew, Max and Ross Howard are delighted to have been chosen as finalists but know it is going to be a tough race to beat the other two contenders in the self catering category.

Grove’s luxury Ambleside cottages lie in the beautiful Stock Valley. The five cottages comfortably accommodate between 2 and 8 guests, and are rated 4 & 5 star.  They are sited on Grove farm, and occupy a unique position in the Lake District, with amazing views all round.  Each property is unique in character. Cozy Little Grove with its log burning stove is perfect for a romantic break for two, whereas the fabulously spacious farmhouse makes for a characterful home for larger groups & family gatherings.

There are spectacular walks to be had in all directions from the doorstep, and Guests are encouraged to explore the farm and its myriad wildlife. For the less adventurous the beautiful Stockghyll falls are within easy reach at the bottom of the farm lane. The cottages are in a very peaceful and tranquil location, yet only 1.4 miles from all the entertainment in Ambleside’s bustling village centre.

For more information visit http://www.grovecottages.com

The Mailing Room, the Royal Mail approved franking machine supplier are pleased to announced the launch of their new MailSave+ service.

MailSave+ is an access to postal discounts. The details of the service are as follows:

•    A 2 or a 3 day non time critical mail service for small to medium sized businesses
•    Low volume threshold to access postal savings
•    Unsorted mail
•    Daily or one off collections
•    Regional and National service

Who’s it for?

Small to medium sized businesses and public sector bodies whose mail volumes do not meet the traditional pre-sorted or Cleanmail volume criteria.
Postrooms who want a cost effective service for non time critical traditional second class mail.

What are the benefits to you – the customer?
•    Reduced cost per item on every item
•    Lower volume thresholds attract discount on every item
•    Volumes can be averaged to meet collection minimums
•    Collections times that are convenient for you
•    A cost-effective and flexible way of achieving daily mail discounts

Are there minimum volumes?
•    A minimum of 250 items per collection is required
•    Minimum collection volumes may be aggregated
•    Minimum volume collections may vary with Geographic location

Start saving today, visit http://www.themailingroom.com The Mailing Room franking machine supplier for more information and how you can start benefitting from the MailSave+ service.

Royal Mail has announced 1st and 2nd class standard mail price increases which will take effect from 6 April 2010.

The price of 1st class standard mail (weighing up to 100g) will increase by 2p to 41p and 2nd class mail by the same margin to 32p. Postage price increases are nothing new but what does differ with this price increase is that of ordinary meter and account mail, i.e. mail franked by franking machines. The prices for franked mail are to be kept at the old rate.

This is great news for businesses and organisations that send out high volumes of mail but such a saving, typically 7p* on 2nd class franked mail, is now making franking machines an attractive option for even smaller mail outputs, for example, 25-50 items per day.

Using a franking machine means stamps never run out and mail can be organised and posted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Integrated scales give you the correct postal tariff for all mail ensuring complete accuracy. Increased brand awareness and the ability to send messages on franking labels are other advantages of using franking machines.

Efficiency in business is the key in today’s climate both in the form of money and time saving. Franking machines create savings on both for a business or organisation. For example, if you had an employee on a salary of £14k per annum, and they made one 30 minute trip to the post office every week you could save an additional £14.60 a week by using franked mail. So not only with the price freeze on franked mail from April 6 but with more efficiency in time management, franking machines should be the way forward for thousands of businesses.

The Mailing Room is a leading supplier of mailroom equipment and consumables including franking machines. Visit http://www.themailingroom.com for more information.

*Saving relates to the discount offered on first class and second class letters only up to 100g. Prices effective from 6th April 2010. Discounts may vary.