Falmouth Harbour Commissioners has introduced a speed limit on the town's bathing waters during the summer months, using what is believed to be the first harbour direction created in the UK since local harbours were given the chance to apply for such powers.

A speed limit of four-knots will be in place on the waters within 100 metres of the shore (mean low water mark) in the area from Pendennis Point to Pennance Point in Falmouth, from May 1 to September 30 annually.

The zone covers the popular bathing areas off Gyllyngvase, Castle, Swanpool and Maenporth beaches. There has been a voluntary speed limit in place in these areas for over ten years but now the direction has been made, this will become legally enforceable and speed limit signage will be erected on marker buoys.

The independent Port User Group, which was created specifically to consider such directions in line with the agreed Code of Practice, reviewed the proposal and put forward the recommendation to the commissioners. The public were invited to comment on the proposal in July and the board of commissioners considered comments from the Port User Group before agreeing to introduce the seasonal speed limit.

Mark Sansom, harbour master and chief executive of Falmouth Harbour Commissioners, said: “Being granted the Power of Harbour Direction enables us to create directions tailored specifically to the requirements of Falmouth Harbour. We’re pleased to be adopting what we believe is the UK’s first local harbour direction since the powers were made available to harbour authorities in 2013.

“For over ten years there has been a voluntary speed limit in Falmouth’s bathing waters. In the main, this has been adhered to, but there have been difficulties in enforcing bye-laws when incidents have occurred in the past. Now, thanks to the new legally enforceable speed restriction, we’ll be able to better ensure safety in the waters of popular bathing areas.”