Controversy Surrounds Proposed Toll Hikes on Norfolk Broads

[NBF]

Norfolk Broads Hire Firms Oppose Toll Escalations as Excessive

Skippers plying the Norfolk waterways are facing the prospect of an increased charge to ply the rivers, something which hire boat operators are fiercely arguing needs to be put aside. Despite objections, the Broads Authority (BA) has brought about a motion to increase the tolls of most boats by an average 5.9%, as explained through their annual finances assessment.

Diesel and petrol hire boats will take the full force of these increases, with rises of almost 10% predicted. Hired sailing boats and electric day boats, on the other hand, will not be increased, in a move consistent with the wider environmental ambitions for the Broads.

At a recent Navigation Committee meeting, members called on the BA to find operational savings instead of introducing toll rises as high as 12%. If the proposals go ahead, the annual dues for a hired motorboat of 48m² will rise by £93.10 to £2,114.40. For private motorboat owners, the rise is more modest at £41.42 to a total of £743.28 annually.

A Looming Budgetary Deficit

John Packman, chief executive of the BA, emphasised the financial pressure that had led to the decision, with an estimated £400,000 shortfall in next year's budget. The suggested 5.9% increase, he warned, would have to be accommodated by cuts in ranger patrol hours and dredging, both essential to ensuring that the Broads remain navigable and safe.

Industry Leaders Have Their Say

Matthew Thwaite, chairman of the Hire Boat Federation, fiercely opposed the rises, which he said were disproportionate. He said: "For us, these increases are unsustainable. After three successive years of above-inflation rises, this year's increase seems particularly unjustified. To suggest that safety will be at risk without this money is simply not true.

Thwaite urged the BA to look carefully at its spending and find other ways of saving money rather than increasing tolls to bridge the gap in its budget.

Diverging Perspectives

By contrast, Ben Falat, chairman of the Norfolk and Suffolk Boating Association, showed a more reserved acceptance of the proposed tolls. Using statistics from the Office for National Statistics, he said the rises are in line with inflationary pressures on the boating sector. However, he challenged the BA's use of the income from tolls, stressing that they are legally limited to navigation purposes.

Falat said the funds for ranger patrols should be kept separate from the tolls, adding, "Tolls are dedicated to the maintenance of navigation. Other services, like ranger patrols, are very valuable but should be funded from other sources."

Grassroots Opposition Gathers Momentum

Further opposition comes from the Broads Reform Action Group headed by chairman Colin Chelebrugh, who, against the increase, demonstrated how it burdens private boat owners and hire fleets due to the current inflation. "The unremitting increase in tolls is driving some private owners to abandon their vessels and heaping unprecedented strain on commercial operators," said Chelebrugh.

The Road Ahead

A final decision on the toll proposals will be made this Friday, November 29, when BA members meet. The BA has traditionally opted for higher rises, such is demonstrated by last year's decision to disregard the suggestions of the Navigation Committee for an 8.5% rise.

Projected Toll Impacts

If the new charges are approved, the vast majority of boaters will pay a 5.9% increase in toll fees. The cost for private sailing boat owners, based on vessel length, would range from £59.75 to £131.45 annually. For private motorboats, the smallest at 5m would pay £97.80, while the largest would pay £743.28.

The largest increase will be to the hired petrol day boats, increasing to £770, while hired electric day hire boats retain the same price of £479.38. Prices for the hired motorcraft will fall within a range of £1,637 to £2,114 per year.