On 20th September, the Broads Authority published its Briefing on Navigation Charges for 2025/26. A tolls briefing for all Broads Authority Members is scheduled for the afternoon of the 8th October 2024. Ahead of this, the Society has submitted the following response.
We firmly believe that private toll payers bear a disproportionate share of the Broads' costs. Despite there being only 10,000 private toll payers, they account for 29% of the Authority's expenditure. This places a significant burden on a small group, especially when compared to the approximately 7.5 million annual visitors who contribute very little financially to the upkeep of the Broads.
SUMMARY OF THE BROADS SOCIETY’S RESPONSE TO THE AUTHORITY’s BRIEFING ON NAVIGATION TOLLS 2025-2026
The Broads Society appreciates the opportunity to consider the best approach to addressing the Broads Authority’s shortfall of £394K in the budget for management of the Broads navigation in 2025-26 and is pleased to offer the following suggestions.
1. The Broads Authority should not allow its tolls to be eroded by inflation, implying a tolls increase of between 3% and 4% in 2025-26. This would reduce the deficit to about £250,000.
2. The concept of paying for the navigation through tolls alone is out-moded. The allowance in the Broads Act for additional grants from the Secretary of State has proved helpful in recent years but cannot be relied upon for forward budgeting. Recognising the value of the navigation to the general public, the Secretary of State should provide a permanent regular annual navigation supplement to the Broads Authority, in addition to the annual national park grant and occasional ad hoc grants for capital items.
3. The Glover Review recommended that all authorities of protected landscapes diversify their income by raising funds from the facilities and attractions available to them. The Broads navigation is not purely a private benefit to boat owners, and all other beneficiaries and visitors, such as ramblers, cyclists, birdwatchers, and photographers, should contribute to Broads Authority’s navigation income.
4. A functional visitor-giving scheme managed through cooperation with Broads NGOs, businesses and others would offset general maintenance and help to address climate adaptation and nature recovery.
6. The Authority should freeze construction of any new moorings with land access unless these are to replace moorings that are being or have been lost. Greater use should be made of low-maintenance moorings without land access, such as dolphins and pontoons, particularly for short stops, including re- and de-masting.
7. Consideration should be given to the introduction of charges for all the 60+ currently free moorings. This would help to pay for the Rangers, who have an essential role to play in the Broads.
8. Any changes to tolls schemes should not be to the disadvantage of the education and enjoyment of young people.
ENDS
The so-called 'free moorings' are not free! We pay for these as boat owners as part of our annual fee to the Broads Authority! Extra income should and could be paid for by hire boat companies.
It's great to see a comperhesive response by the society to the authority. On point 3 I'am not sure that the concept of charging cyclists, ramblers and photographers is practical nor desirable. This rather detracts from the cocept of free access to the countryside. I would also note that no mention is made of the fact that the waterways also provide drainage and flood protection, factors that should be considered when it comes as to 'who pays.