Punters deride rival river's new rule set

Punt operators in Cambridge are to be subject to new strict rules drawn up by the Conservators of the River Cam, or risk being banned from the waters.

The new rules state special safety demonstrations must be carried out before anyone gets in a punt, life jackets must be made available, and singing, music and noise are not allowed.

And despite a popular punting scene in Oxford, local experts say they believe it is unlikely the rules would be introduced in the city any time soon.

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Owner of Magdalen Bridge Boathouse Andrew Howard said he thought the new rules, which include stopping people from dangling their feet in the water, sounded silly. He said: “Who is going to enforce this? I think it sounds strange to me.”

The boathouse in Oxford city centre has its own rules, but Mr Howard said he would never stop people from trailing their fingers in the water while in a punt.

He added: “Our rules are: if you stand up on the punt, you have to be able to swim, and you have to have buoyancy cushions too.

“I haven’t heard of this coming to Oxford, it seems a bit silly.”

Mike Woodward, who runs company Opera Anywhere, often organises punting events in both Oxford and Cambridge.

The new punting rules in Cambridge ban any singing on punts, which he said sounded like “complete nonsense”.

Mr Woodward added: “I cannot imagine this anywhere. We can’t restrict people’s behaviour. Those health and safety people need to get a life.”

One worker at Salter’s Steamers Folly Bridge in Oxford said he did not think the rules would work in the city, as the punting scene is a lot smaller here than the one in Cambridge.

He said: “Cambridge actually makes a million pounds a year in punting, while Oxford makes about tens of thousands.

"You can’t move for punts in the river there.

“So these rules will probably help Cambridge because it’s chaos, but here they would be no use. There is no need for it.”