Working group commends existing tolls system and recommends changes to benefit hire fleet and non-powered craft
An independent Working Group has recommended that the Broads tolls structure should be modified to support the hire fleet at a time of economic decline in the industry, while also easing charges for small non-powered craft and increasing discounts for electric boats.
The Tolls Working Group, which is representative of key groups with boating interests concluded that the present tolls system, which is structured around the total area (length times beam) of a craft, is robust, simple to understand and easy to measure. It has focussed its efforts on addressing a number of anomalies and revising certain policies taking into account current trends.
Daniel Thwaites, a member of the Working Group who is Chairman of the Broads Tourism Forum and runs a boat hire business, commented:
“ We’ve tried hard to ensure the revised structure is designed to charge users in accordance with their level of use and impact on the waterways, while also ensuring that charges for small, non-powered craft are low enough to attract young and economically disadvantaged people to take to the water.”
The Working Group’s recommendations were welcomed and approved by the Broads Management Committee on Thursday March 24th. Tollpayers and other stakeholders will have a chance to comment on the new structure in April and May and, importantly, indicate to the Authority priority areas for raising additional income from tolls.
A decision on a level of charges to be made from April 2006 will be made by the Broads Authority in July, following this consultation.
The Working Group’s recommendations include:
- Reducing the multiplier for hire cruisers and sailing boats from three times those of an equivalent private craft to 2.7 over three years. This should then be reviewed.
- Charging commercial plant on the same basis as other commercial craft.
- Reducing the flat rate for small non-powered craft (sailboards, row boats, punts and canoes) from £24.70 to £20 from 2006/2007. Then applying annual increases in line with other vessels
- Maintaining existing incentives by raising the discount for electric boats from 25% to 30%. (Currently the toll for a powered craft of 10 sq. m and above is double that of an equivalent sized non-powered craft.)
- Introducing a three-month licence for January 1st to March 31st at 50% discount for newly registered boats.
- Extending the arrangement whereby voluntary youth groups can licence up to ten canoes for the price of one to include sailing dinghies.
The Group also considered the extent to which income from tolls can be maximised to demonstrate to the government that toll payers are contributing their fair share to the management of the waterways. Tolls will have to increase annually by an estimated 5.23% in order to maintain the present level of income and accommodate the impacts of inflation, the continuing decline in hire cruisers and a proposed reduction in tolls for hire cruisers. In comparison with other waterways, Broads tolls remain lower for most classes and sizes of boat, with the exception of small boats and the largest hire boats.
The Group emphasises that any increase over and above maintaining the existing income base will need to be earmarked for specific initiatives and be fully accountable by the Authority. It also recommends that the Authority should explore other sources of income from those who use the Broads for their business or enjoyment.
The Tolls Working Group includes boat hirers, and representatives from the Norfolk and Suffolk Boating Association, Royal Yachting Association, British Marine Federation, Norfolk and Suffolk Boatbuilders Association, Broads Hire Boat Federation, British Canoe Union, Amateur Rowing Association, Broads Angling Strategy Group and the British Water Ski Federation, as well as the National Trust, RSPB and Wildlife Trusts.
Dr John Packman, Chief Executive of the Broads Authority, paid tribute to the members of the group for their “excellent report and hard work.”
“This is a major consultative exercise that reflects much consensus and some necessary compromise along the way,” he said.
23/03/2005
