Swing Bridges – update

The first two bridges were both built in 1906 and are effectively at “end of life”. Network Rail have carried out engineering studies and consultations which recently concluded that replacement opening structures are the preferred long term maintenance option. However special funding is required, which Network Rail intended to apply for but the prognosis of success was so poor that NWR have reverted to a maintenance programme;  this will run through the next three winters 2020/23.

Last year we asked for evidence of the effect of bridge closures and asked that as many events are reported as possible.  In order to support the case for the special funding for replacement bridges;  responses were not usefully forthcoming.

Please can you advise any delays you have experienced waiting for the Reedham and Somerleyton swing bridges to open to the river. Did the delay cause you to miss appointments, miss events, miss the tide, or incur other costs? All events considered.  Please send details of any problems as set out below to swingbridges@thegreenbook.org.uk

Your name
Date of delay
Time
Location
Vessel
Details of delay
Consequences of delay

Thank you.

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DEFRA Landscapes Review (Glover) – NSBA response

Photo by Sue Hines

The Government has asked for an independent review of England’s National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). As a member of the National Parks family, the Broads are included in this review.  Details of the review can be found at: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/land-use/landscapes-review-call-for-evidence/

The NSBA are concerned about the possible impact of the review on navigation rights and have made their response as an organisation – details here.

 

Swing Bridges – evidence needed of service failure

Recent hot weather has resulted in operational problems with the Reedham and Somerleyton swing bridges, so that they can’t be opened to permit large or tall vessels to pass.  The Broads Authority have been talking to Network Rail about the problems for several years and in August 2018 held a workshop attended by Network Rail and representatives from boat users and the BA.  Notes of this workshop can be downloaded here.

The bridges were both built in 1906 and are effectively at “end of life”. Network Rail have carried out engineering studies and consultations which recently concluded that replacement opening structures are the preferred long term maintenance option. However special funding is required, which Network Rail intend to apply for next March.

In order to support the case for the special funding for replacement bridges, please can you advise any delays you have experienced waiting for the Reedham and Somerleyton swing bridges to open to the river. Did the delay cause you to miss appointments, miss events, miss the tide, or incur other costs? All events considered, with summer 2018 most relevant.  Please send details of any problems as set out below to swingbridges@thegreenbook.org.uk

Your name
Date of delay
Time
Location
Vessel
Details of delay
Consequences of delay

Thank you.

Tolls response from Broads Authority

NSBA recently sent a message to members informing them of the tolls changes proposed for 2017/18 with a list of bullet points highlighting particular areas of concern for private boat owners.  NSBA has received a letter from Professor Jacquie Burgess, chair of the Broads Authority responding to these points.

The content of the letter with annotations by NSBA can be downloaded here.  Officers of NSBA will be meeting with Professor Burgess and Dr Packman next week and look forward to continuing the discussion.

Radical Tolls Changes for 2017

The Navigation Committee of the Broads Authority has recently approved a radical change in the structure of tolls for 2017/18.  This follows advice from a 7 member BA Tolls Review Group set up in September 2015.

Whilst the effect on hire boats is modest, many private boat owners will face dramatic changes in the level of their tolls.

• Almost a third of motor boats face an increase of over 10%
• Many traditional broads sailing cruisers have an increase of over 20% – some over 50%!

At the same time, very small boats will see large reductions in tolls – around 20% for an Optimist dinghy or a 15’ motor launch.  A calculator with tables setting out the effect on your toll can be found here: private-tolls-2017_18

NSBA are disappointed that the Navigation Committee has chosen an outcome which will adversely affect a large number of private boat owners.   We encourage boat owners to express their views directly to the Broads Authority to reinforce our comments.

 

Now the quiz:  See which boats the BA are encouraging via their Tolls policy:- One boat has a 16% increase, the other is over 30%

 

 

 

Yes – you’ve guessed – the Fairline is 15.8% and the River Cruiser is 30.2%

Click here to see some other examples of new 2017 Toll changes.

BA Tolls Proposals 2017-18 – Radical changes for Private boat users

NSBA has today issued the following Press Release.  We have also produced our own supporting tables of charges, which can be downloaded here:Private boats – Hire boats  For private boats these show the effect of keeping a “fixed and variable” combined rate, rather than the BA proposed “flat” rate toll.

The Navigation Committee of the Broads Authority will consider proposals to make radical changes to tolls at its meeting on 27^th October. 

At a time when inflation is around 1%, private boat owners will face dramatic changes in the level of their tolls with some increases of over 50%. Almost a third of motor boats will face an increase of over 10%. This compares with Hire Boats where only 4 motor boats see such a large increase – all of these are diesel generator boats where the electric subsidy has been withdrawn.

57% of private boats will see a change (increase or decrease) in toll of over 10% – equating to over 5,000 boats.

Many traditional broads sailing boats will also face increases of over 20%, some as high as 40%.

At the same time, lower tolls for smaller boats could reduce income from these craft by around £100,000 – a puzzling strategy for an organisation with Navigation income below forecast and concerned about its ability to meet its future spending commitments.

These extreme changes come about because a proposal to adopt a single rate to apply to the boat size to calculate the toll, whilst trying to achieve an overall increase in toll income of 3.3%.

David Talbot, vice-chair of the Norfolk & Suffolk Boating Association, commented “whilst we welcome many of the changes, we are disappointed that the oversimplification of the proposed method has led to such extreme variations in tolls for private boats. We urge the Navigation Committee to consider the full impact of the proposals on individual boat owners.  As they stand, we feel that the proposals are neither sufficiently flexible nor fair to our members.”