NSBA Reply to DEFRA Consultation

HEAVY-HANDED LEGISLATION COULD RUIN THE BROADS

Insensitive application of statutory powers could damage the whole social and economic fabric of the Broads, says the Norfolk and Suffolk Boating Association (NSBA), in a submission to the Department of Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) on its consultation on the future management of National Parks and the Broads.

NSBA, which represents private boat owners and toll-payers on the Broads, says a reduction in the number of those using the Broads would impact on the infrastructure and lead to a reduction in the potential income to both the Broads Authority (BA) and the local economy from visiting boat-hirers and owners.

Defra is seeking to update Government policy on dealing with climate change, conservation and enhance of the landscape and natural heritage, securing maximum value for money from funding and, fostering biodiversity, within National Parks and the Broads. Public bodies would be seen as acting unreasonably if they ignored it and/or acted differently without good reasons for doing so.

NSBA vice-Chairman Richard Card said: “The economic infrastructure of the Broads is not a matter simply of local concern because it (particularly boat building and repair) supports a significant turnover of work for other areas of the UK and for the export industry. It is therefore an added responsibility for the Broads Authority to safeguard this in the interests of the national economy as a whole.”

Without adequate income the BA would not be able to maintain the navigation area, to the consequent detriment of the Broads system.

“Without the essential dredging work, for example, the system would gradually become unusable for navigation; the income derived from it by local businesses would dramatically shrink and the wildlife associated with the waterways would reduce in variety and number,” he said.

The Broads are a fragile eco-system. Even a temporary incursion of flooding by the sea would affect their biodiversity for years. Difficult, radical decisions had to be made, and the necessary funding secured to protect the future. Other national waterways receive considerable grant funding from central government, and toll payers should not foot the entire bill.

“We welcome the statement that Defra will discuss with the BA whether some additional funding should be incorporated in the Authority’s grant baseline for future years, but we would urge that the question is not ‘should it’ but ‘how much’ and ask ‘will it be ring-fenced for use in respect of the navigable waters?”

He also called for the restoration of public staithes, something that the Broads Authority had sadly neglected.

Consultation on the Merchant Shipping (Watercraft) Order 200X

In the summer, the Department of Transport published a consultation paper proposing that the definition of ‘ship’ in five pieces of merchant shipping legislation dealing with registration as a British ship, safety of vessels, conduct endangering ships, structures or individuals and ‘drink/drive laws on the water’ should be extended to every description of watercraft which are not currently classified as ‘ships’. The proposals were motivated by problems caused by irresponsible drivers of personal watercraft (eg jet-skis) in coastal waters, but they would also bring within the extended legislation: sailing dinghies, rowing boats, sailboards, canoes, rowing eights, fours etc and speedboats, for example.

The NSBA responded to the consultation. The response is on the NSBA website. The NSBA stated that, while there might be a need for the proposed extension of the legislation to those waters where there is currently no legislative regime in order to deal with the unsafe navigation, or the unsafe condition, of vessels, or the effect of alcohol or drugs, the navigation area of the Broads is already subject to an adequate legislative regime in these respects in respect of vessels of the types listed above. The NSBA stated that there is no need for further legislation relating to safety as far as the Broads are concerned. To introduce it would lead to unnecessary duplication with the risk of inconsistency between the two regimes.

The outcome of this consultation is not yet known.

click here to view the NSBA response in PDF format

Welcome to the new look NSBA website

As you can see, the NSBA website has changed.

We’re making it easier for us to update, and to bring the latest information on what’s going on within the Norfolk and Suffolk Boating scene direct to you.

We’re also making it easier for you to make your comments on what’s going on. You’ll be able to post your comments on issues as they develop and as they are reported.

All the Green Book  information which has proved so popular in the past is still available through the links on the left of this screen. You can still see everything, from our unique photo-database of Broadland bridges, to the ever valuable tide tables.

Clubs can see, view and update their information in the usual way.

Enjoy!

Mark Wells,
NSBA Chair.

Broads Authority responds to NSBA calls for lower tolls increases

Phil Ollier - NSBA Committee Member and new Vice-Chair of Navigation Committee

After years of pressure from the NSBA, Broads Authority officers are at last proposing a low single digit increase in annual river tolls – the tax boat owners pay to use the Broads. But the NSBA is not happy that the Authority’s officals want to use the increase to re-structure the tolls payments without proper negotiation or consultation. Until recently, increases of 5-6% across the board were being mooted for next year following a decade of even heavier increases.

“It appears the Broads Authority may have at last woken up to the realities of the economic situation, and the ability of owners to pay ever higher tolls,” said NSBA Chairman Mark Wells

In the Authority’s Navigaton Committee’s tolls debate, officers proposed a 2.85% average rise profiled in such a way that the small boats faced a 1% increase and the largest boats faced a 4.4% increase. Financial reports presented at the meeting and enhanced by questions put to officers garnered the information that the likely outturn for the current year was a £50,000 underspend (about 2% of the tolls income). Mindful of the, as yet unknown, costs associated with taking over Breydon Water (likely to occur next year) and the current rate of inflation, the committee accepted the officer’s recommendation of a 2.85% increase but recommended that it should be a flat rate increase applicable to all sizes of craft. The feeling was that if the Authority wanted to encourage particular classes of craft, it should do so as the result of a thorough review of the tolls structure, not by trying to skew the way that increases were applied.

On the subject of an integrated access strategy for the Broads officers’ acknowledged the need to enshrine the right to navigate.

David Broad was elected Navigation Committee Chairman and NSBA Commitee member Phil Ollier was elected Vice Chairman. Both were put forward for appointment to the Broads Authority as Navigation Committee representatives.