Would it not be safer for the boats to be locked up than left in the lake inviting teenagers to play on?? Especially with winter coming along.
My husband and I moved here only 5 months ago and our children love the boats. We'd never get there where we moved from. It's fantastic. I think the council are being rather over the top and unfair. You just can't do anything these days! The fact that this man dedicates his time and energy in proving a service at such low costs is great and I think he should be appreciated for his efforts. Local people would be saddened if the boats were to stop. The council need to think about the consequences

I would like to say I have used the boats now for over 20 years, when I took my daughter recently Mr Hetherington was absolutely brilliant, he looked after us really weell and I think it will be a sorry miss if he has to stop working on the pond

In an age that boasts the so called merits of fair play it seems the council is being heavy handed with a decent man who has provided Carlisle with a family safe environment for over thirteen years surely his past H.S.E record stands up to scrutiny hats off to the boatman god bless his endeavour its time the council sat around the table and saw some sense

The park is a fantastic place,very safe and usable. Health and safety must be paramount, however when issues arise,dealing with them can be a massive hassle.
Yet it has no need to be,a common sense approach,maybe up to date council advice and support is all thats required.

Wayne, just to clarify, I wasn't getting at Mr Hetherington with my comment, in case you thought I was. It was directed at all these folk who have suddenly decided, because it backs up their personal viewpoint, that adhering to H&S rules is absolutely correct (which of course it is) but who normally protest and moan that "'elf'n'safety" stops anything good or fun from happening.

When I met Mr Hetherington the other day I offered to help him with any health and safety advice or risk assessment issues, free of charge, if it helped to sort this out.

I know Dave and I know he's a decent bloke who knows what he is doing in and around a workshop. If he's breached any health and safety laws I'd be surprised. The bloke does his best for the kids on the park so a warning would suffice and I'm sure he would adhere to any recommendations by the council.

Let Dave and the boats stay.

Save our boats.

unfortunely im a bit biased witin this debate, as i have known dave for a long time, im also aware of his qualifications and work history, which would more than make him an experienced operative within the feild of welding/gas cylinder storage etc,etc. so it is in my oppinion that he would know a thing or two about H&S legislature with regards to his feild of work..... but be as it may people read things in the paper and its jump on the band wagon time..... If there was such an issue why didnt carlisle council contact the HSE and let the appropriate authorites deal with such a matter which could then be resolved...... rik there are two sides to every story

Whether or not this gentleman has breached any health and safety regulations, and as a former H&S Inspector I am certainly not someone who condones dangerous situations, I am absolutely AMAZED by the comments on here. Are you really representing the great British public, who normally shout so loudly in scorn and disgust whenever anyone so much as mentions health and safety!? To have such an in depth awareness of legislation is admirable, but you also need the ability to hear both sides of the story - and we don't know all the details. If only it had been as easy to convince people of the importance of health and safety during my career, my job would have been simple.

Knowing councils as I do, I would be very surprised if Mr Hetherington had been given any instructions on what he could or couldn't (or shouldn't) do in the storage shed, and it is also very unlikely that he had ever been inspected to see if he was operating safely. If he wasn't, he should have been given a warning before any action was tsken.

However, it seems to me that someone in a department at the Council has suddenly thought the building would be quite useful to them, realised the lease had run out, and took it back.

I hope a solution can be found to suit everyone.

Rik it depends what welding equipment it is. I think you are jumping the gun a bit here.

well just reading this article this man is in breach of at least 4 pieces of legislation....
bear in mind most welders require seperate oxygen bottles that are highly pressurised and should be placed in a locked secure cage by law. If this man flowts the law then he should be lucky hes only lost the tenancy, The HSE would more than likely slap him with a 2k fine and or 2 yr prison sentence per offence! thats 8k and /or 8yr jailtime! If i was this fellow id be getting out as quick as i could given hes breached a shed load of HSE laws. AND BEFORE YOU ALL START HSE BASHING, THINK HOW YOU WOULD FEEL IF IT WAS YOUR CHILDREN NEAR IT WHEN IT DECIDED TO GO BANG!!! fair play to carlisle council for doing the right thing.......