Have your say on new Broads Bill
The Broads Authority is calling on the public to help it shape its Private Bill to provide it with the powers to make the Broads safer for boaters.
The Authority is also taking the opportunity, while promoting the Bill, to deal with other issues that were raised in the Government review of the Authority in 2003 and during the preparation of the Broads Plan 2004.
The Bill, which will amend the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988, will be deposited in Parliament in November. The Breakaway V accident in July 2003 in which a motor hire cruiser capsized on the River Bure, causing loss of life, the need to implement the national Boat Safety Scheme and the requirements of the Port Marine Safety Code have caused the Authority to seek additional powers for the safe management of the navigation. Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has provided £100,000 to help with the costs of the Bill.
The Authority is consulting with a wide range of interest groups and would like to receive comments from members of the public by 28 April. A formal consultation on a second draft of the Bill will be held from 22 May to 7 July.
The Private Bill will give the Authority the power to:
· Enforce the National Boat Safety Scheme, which aims to minimise the risks of fire, explosion and pollution through regular inspection of boats
· Require compulsory third party insurance for boats, which local boat users have been seeking for many years
· License hire boats for the safe management of the waterways and minimise risk to third parties. Currently the six District Councils in the Authority’s area have the power to license passenger vessels but until very recently none has exercised this power
· Change the name of the area to the Broads National Park and the Authority to the Broads National Park Authority. This would not change the status of the Authority, which is already a member of the National Park family, but is expected to improve the public’s perception of the Broads and make it a more sought-after holiday destination. The Bill does not propose adopting the Sandford Principle, which gives precedence to the conservation purpose for national park authorities
· Enter private land and cut back vegetation that overhangs the navigation area
· Manage water skiing in line with the present voluntary arrangements
· Transfer the navigational jurisdiction of Breydon Water and Lower Bure from the Great Yarmouth Port Authority to the Broads Authority
Details of the Private Bill can be found on the Broads Authority’s website: www broads-authority.gov.uk. To comment, write to The Chief Executive, Broads Bill, Broads Authority, 18 Colegate, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 1BQ or email broadsbill@broads-authority.gov.uk by Friday 28 April.
10/04/2006
