No more going on the lash on the CamSimon Lock

Punters on the River Cam must provide tourists with a safety demonstration similar to those seen on airlines or face a six-month ban from the water, according to new regulations.

Boatmen must be able to perform an ‘emergency stop’ on the river and are banned from the consumption of drugs or alcohol before working.

They will also be mandated to carry a lantern for dark conditions in order to prevent collisions with other punts, and must also be prepared to jump into the river to rescue any passengers who end up in the water.

Self-hire punts will now be required to display five health and safety signs and to provide life jackets, either as required or upon request.

These provisions follow a crackdown by Cambridge City Council on illegal punters operating out of the slipway at Garret Hostel Lane, which is owned by the council and is not a recognised punt location. Its use posed both legal concerns and health and safety worries.

Illegal punters were responsible for increased punt congestion on the River Cam, which led to increased waits for punts to get on the river, in turn blocking the busy pedestrian and cycle routes along the river.

Many of these illegal punters, whose services took business away from legitimate punt operators and weakened existing provisions for health and safety, attract customers through promoters on King’s Parade, Petty Cury and in the market square.

Their touting tactics have led to complaints from locals, as they are seen to project a poor image of Cambridge to visitors.

These new regulations are intended to remedy this problem and return legitimacy to punt chauffeurs, while protecting members of the public from punters who are operating outside the law.

Operators must keep accident records open for inspection by Cam Conservators, and any issues could be taken to the police.

Punt companies must have a designated health and safety officer, and the lashing together of punts is banned, except when empty punts are being moved at off-peak times of the day.

Jed Ramsay, River Manager of the Cam Conservators, said: “The revised code of conduct will bring improvements in safety for everyone who enjoys punting”.

However, Sam Matthews, operator of the Traditional Punting Company, doubts the effectiveness of the new regulations: “I don’t think a new shiny sticker on a chauffeured punt is going to improve the chances of a self-hire novice punting in a straight line, or on the correct side of the river.”

@JPRobbo