Tolls Rise to Fund More Broads Maintenance
Charges for using a boat on the Broads are to rise by 6% in order for the Broads Authority to maintain high levels of service. It follows a survey of boaters which canvassed their views on how the Authority should prioritise future spending.
It means the annual charge for a small sailing dinghy will rise by just £2.62 in 2010/11 from £43.60 to £46.22. An 18m2 yacht will typically see its toll rise by £7.84 from £130.56 to £138.40 and the fee for a larger motor boat of 25m2 will go up by £13.37 from £222.80 to £236.17.
The decision was made at a meeting of the Broads Authority today (Friday) based on recommendations from a special review group set up to investigate the issue. Members said they recognized the need to help boaters coping with financial pressures in the current economic climate and said the aim was to achieve only inflationary increases from 2013.
It follows a survey of toll payers which highlighted that dredging and water quality were their top priorities for future expenditure. The Authority now plans to target extra money on those areas.
A 20% improvement in dredging has been achieved since the Broads Authority took over direct responsibility from contractor May Gurney in 2007. The Authority has also invested in new equipment and is currently trialling innovative dredging disposal techniques. In September it purchased new moorings beside the Berney Arms public house near Breydon Water and is building more at Horning Marshes. Gay’s Staithe has been refurbished and work on Martham Bank at Potter Heigham is currently underway. More electric charging points are also being put in at Horning. Additional staff resource will also be applied to the Authority’s tree and scrub removal programme and accelerating the mooring maintenance schedule.
Broads Authority Chairman Stephen Johnson said: “The Broads Authority appreciates that these are difficult economic times and there is a balance to be struck between what toll payers can afford and the additional maintenance they would like to see of the navigation system. The Members supported the Navigation Committee’s recommendation for a 6% increase in charges with the aim of achieving only inflationary increases from 2013. Tolls on the Broads remain good value for money.”
23/11/09
