Bill, I was not going to be drawn into answering your predictably provocative comments but since you seem intent on arguing with the decision of our democratically elected Parliament then answer I will.
Parliament is elected, it answers to the electorate, unlike the unaccountable, unelected quango that is the Broads Authority. At no point in its history has the Authority consulted on whether the Broads should be a national park or not, effectively that decision was taken away from the very people that the BA purports to serve. That aside, Parliament had the wisdom to turn down the Broads National Park bill because it was decided that the Broads Act as is offers suitable and adequate protection for the Broads whilst the National Parks Act does not. That is because the Broads is a harbour, a navigation and a tidal water, factors that must be protected. Like many I wish to see our rights of access and navigation protected, and that really is it in a nutshell. If you wish to put those rights at risk then that is your right, but personally I would rather safeguard them hence my stance against the Broads being a national park, one that would be managed by an unaccountable, unelected quango. The powers that come with being a national park must not to be entrusted to a quango such as the present incumbents of Yare House. Obviously my own personal opinion. Over to you, Bill.