riverman

Not to worry, too long on the river has sapped my sense of humour. Always struck me that FC and BA got along quite easily, in comparison to other organisations anyway. There was whispers 6-7 years ago about mandatory cutting 3m's back from the edge along the entire system. Unfortunately I'd suspect that going through an MP might be tricky, it'd be hit or miss as to if they were part of the same old boys club. But something has got to be done, I hear so much from people who work there, things that work make toll payers blood boil.

You're exactly right, and it happens all the time. Take the clam bucket fiasco, someone in the office decided they wanted one for no obvious reason, went out and bought one without consulting anyone or any of the excavator literature regarding lifting capacities, subsequently to find out the excavator could barely lift it. Waste of 4 or 5 grand. Best of luck to them, landing small equipment in dense woodland is difficult enough, what you really need is some men with chainsaws to make a clearing.....

From what I understand the new excavator is to replace one of the old cranes not to be used with a tree shear. Due to the increase in plant hire firms who hire out tree shears and the subsequent drop in hire price, no business in there right mind would purchase one, just not cost effective. The trees BA remove are only really twigs and from personal experience I can say with absolute certainty that hand felling is the safest, most efficient method for the broads environment. We usually fell directly into the water, then drag the trees onto the bank with a mini digger for delimbing and bucking. Once again, BA making a job harder than it needs to be.

I'd find it hard to believe that BA would need FC's permission to dump spoil on a rhond with no trees in the middle of a marsh that has no trees but if they do, that's just another ludicrous situation that's needs some sense applied. Natural England, The Wildlife Trust, Rspb almost certainly stick their oar in, which in some situations is understandable but generally unnecessary over all. The problem is as you say, public sector noses and pensions. If a job is easy and straightforward, they'll make it difficult to justify there own roles. What's needed isn't a meeting, it's a public enquiry.

The operator made a mistake when coming off the marsh and tried to turn turtle, very easily done. Not a bad recovery at all, took me longer to steam round to it than it did to get it back upright. It's very infuriating as somebody who does similar work to see them doing such ridiculous things. The whole move away from clam dredging to long reach dredging is mad, using powered wherries instead of lighters and tugs, dumping material miles from where it's needed. It's all just crazy, minions should be roused.

Probably. They'll just have to create a new category. It's been known.

This is just conjecture but I think 'throughout the broads' is the problem. They don't want to set a precedent. Although they act like a council they want to be selective about what their duties are. There would be no problem with access, or a bin being secured in place, it's purely taking the refuse away. You may well be right about the reserve funds but a new excavator costs a lot more than a few tree cutting bits.

Just my tuppence, the semi sunk amphib digger was rescued by yours truly, it doesn't belong to BA but rather a private contractor. BA's dredging is a farce. Where they've been working towards Yarmouth they've been ferrying the mud so far that they've only been managing 2 loads a day. Too many 'experts', with too much money and not enough accountability who refuse to speak to anyone else about more efficient methods.

Back onto original topic, only briefly, from what I understand of the situation at oby I'd be very surprised if the floating pontoon moorings ever make an appearance. The issue with hire boat rubbish ending up on the mashes still hasn't been resolved and from what I hear on the grape vine, BA's coffers are far too empty to pay the pontoons.

The best ones always used to be 'Posh Boats'. The big Sealine 32 that had no livery on it. Transpires money doesn't make you a good driver, who'd have thunk it.

Just a little bit more, they are all side on mooring so no need for finger jetties, ample car parking, a lot of which will (in time) be next to each mooring. There are plans for water and electric dependant on demand. Toilets, showers and swimming pool also on site. The 40m of 24hr moorings downstream are a 10% 'donation' for lack of a better term, which allowed the rest of the work to go ahead. As far as I'm aware there not going to be replaced or refurbished just yet. The pontoons might happen if the rubbish issue is resolved, there situation along with the 40m is on a public footpath so access will never be an issue.

From what i see being on the river everyday, the problem is now endemic. If you cut off the head, you won't kill that snake.

That is correct, and what i originally meant, sorry for any confusion.

Not a clue, don't even know if that will be offered. Would make good business sense until the permanent moorings are filled up, and seeing as BAM are currently pulling out the public moorings, it would be a golden opportunity but i really don't know.

No, it's a private dyke, but a very reasonably priced one (or so I'm led to believe) considering the facilies and location.

And now they've moved to Oby/Thurne to make some more of those lovely soft engineered banks that you can't moor up against.

Just incase anyone's still on topic, i hear there are some lovely, beautifully constructed, new mooring in Oby, not really that far from Horning. Apparently opening in may.

Well, I'm on the river 6 days a week, and i assure you that watching drunk blokes who think there pirates gets old very quickly. Maybe just a ban on costumes....

No, not at all. Due to who i contract for they won't even consider me for a job. I just happen to know some of the disgruntled employes so hear about what BA is wasting your money. Also, Mr Cook is only 75, and he was extremely upset that people thought he might be in his 90's.

Just pull it down and be done with it. Give the tea rooms a late license and turn it into a car park. The tea rooms are nice (even if it does seem a bit more expensive and slightly worse under the new owners). The broads need to be attracting young families not stag parties. Just my tuppence.

At the end of the day, it's BA's responsibility, tolls are just like council tax. The floating walcon pontoons will never happen and a large chunk of well situated moorings will be lost, for what? So BA can spend your toll money on some more shiny hilux's, some brand new uni-floats that don't fit together properly, buckets that are too big for there machines, dredging operations that remove so little material that it's beyond a joke or persecuting certain people off staithes whilst leaving others alone. Broads authority "Zero accountability, Zero transparency"

Just to clarify on a couple of points. Tree clearance in certain areas for firewood is entirely viable using the right equipment. We do it. Fell straight into the water, yard the tree out, cut into cords, and float to a suitable drop off point. Not viable everywhere but some places, ideal. The point around BA's farcical dredging is that it is made unnecessarily complex and expensive. The use of wherrys as apposed to lighters and a tug increase fuel and labour prices. The use of there pathetic clam bucket being used on Hickling is beyond a joke. Im not in favour of using there preferred contractor, whos base is suspiciously located in BA's yard however I would suspect that contract dredging would be more cost effective. The first new wherry I believe was priced by rdde in great Yarmouth and another local firm. They were too expensive.

Thank you, our bit is pretty much finished. Just a small section in the corner nearest the bridge and the rest is up to the brick weaving contractors. Should really look something when it's all finished

No, we can fix the medical piles aswell. We can do all sorts.

You need a different contractor then.