Senator, as we all know Yarmouth is pretty hostile towards any sort of non commercial craft so many members of the Brundall Navy rely on Mutford Lock & Lowestoft. We must remember that traditionally Norwich has long been a port, the river open to sea-going craft. Indeed Mutford Lock was built to provide not just access to the sea but also to Norwich. For whatever reason the Gin Palaces have largely deserted Oulton Broad over the last year or two, is it the cost of mooring I wonder? Anyway, that aside Somerleyton Bridge is at best unreliable, one nail in the coffin. Mooring at Oulton Broad, whilst compared to marina charges is cheap, it is still a financial burden on visitors, nail number two. Being able to moor at Beccles by the bridge, no guarantee of finding mooring space there, nail number three. Indeed being able to find short stay moorings for big boats on the Broads has become increasingly difficult, nail number four. Some of the traditional Broads sailing boats face toll hikes of up to fifty percent so Gin Palaces are not exclusive in that grouse. However none of that would be the final nail for me should I be the proud owner of a GP. What would be the kill for me is the proposed hike to the Mutford Lock charges. A weekend trip to sea would include a gallon or three of fuel, mooring fee at Oulton Broad and now seventy five quid for a return trip through the Lock, that would be the coup de grace for me. Despite having my own free mooring at Oulton Broad even I'm tempted to moor in one of the Lake Lothing moorings or marinas.