Low toll increase aimed at encouraging youngsters on to The Broads
The lowest toll increase for 11 years is to be charged on The Broads for 2009/10 to help boaters cope with financial pressures in the deteriorating economic climate.
At its meeting on 21 November, the Broads Authority decided to prune back its budget and charge a lower than expected increase of 6% to try to maintain boat numbers.
Hundreds of young sailors will also benefit from a new reduction in tolls for the smallest sailing craft of under 10 square metres, such as Mirrors, Optimists and Toppers, to encourage more youngsters to take up boating.
Chief Executive John Packman told the meeting: ”We want more people to enjoy The Broads and get out on the water.”
The changes mean that a small sailing dinghy will pay £13.50 less next year at £43.60 while a 25 square metre motor boat will pay £12.54 more at £222.61.
“For many the contribution made to maintain the system is but a small part of owning and maintaining a boat,” said Dr Packman. “However, the Authority should send a signal to tollpayers that it recognises that businesses and individuals will be facing difficult times and that the Authority is willing to cut its cloth accordingly.”
A total of £140,000 will be cut from the Authority’s budget for 2008/09 and 2009/10 to finance the lower than planned tolls. The Authority is estimating that tolls will generate only a 2.9% increase in real income and as a result will put pressure on the Authority’s finances for future years.
Tolls on The Broads are considerably lower than on other waterways, such as the Thames, particularly for the larger vessels. A small working group of members has been established by the Authority to look at the relative costs for different sized craft and work with officers on a revised financial strategy for future years.
The group is made up of the chairman and vice-chairman of the Authority, Stephen Johnson and Alan Mallett, Martin Broom, chairman of the Navigation Committee, David Broad who represents the navigation committee on the Authority and a member, Phil Durrant.
24/11/2008
