Tolls increase means bigger investment in the Broads
Increased tolls for boats on the Broads from April 1st 2006 will mean an extra £98,000 will be spent on the waterways next year to meet the aspirations of boat owners.
The money is to be ring fenced for three major projects. Jenson's Island, at the entrance to Oulton Broad, will provide a dredging disposal facility for the Oulton Navigation Channel, and new stern-on moorings in old wherry dykes.
St Benet's Abbey on the River Bure will be upgraded as an informal mooring site with improved footpaths and two new Navigation Works Technicians will be employed to increase tree and scrub clearance and maintenance.
The money will be added to an additional £500,000 National Park grant to make a real impact on the Broads. Next year half of it will be spent on dredging. The extra grant of £1.5 million for three years was announced on the understanding that toll payers made an "appropriate" contribution to the Broads.
At its meeting on November 25th the Broads Authority decided to reduce the ratio that the hire fleet pays from three times that of private boat owners to 2.9. This means that hire yards will be contributing an extra 9.2% on their tolls.
Private boat owners will pay an extra 13%. This means that a yacht will pay an extra £5 with the toll going up to £49 a year and the tolls for the largest motor boats will rise by £27 to £240 a year.
The Authority believes that, for the first time, it has an opportunity to deliver significant improvements to the navigation and that opportunity should be taken.
For further information contact: Hilary Franzen, Press Officer, on 01603 610734; mob: 07775 563030; email: hilary.franzen@broads-authority.gov.uk
02/12/2005
