vanessan

Maybe use ‘illicit’ instead?

To be honest I don’t think finding out who owns what has really any bearing on this issue, the fact remains that a prime mooring location looks as if it is perilously close to being lost. With the season only 3 weeks away from kicking off, this could be pretty disastrous. It’s clearly going to be a very busy season and, even if the lease etc is sorted out, repairs are going to take some while. Back in December the BA put out an invitation for tenders relating to the refurbishment of the St Benet’s moorings so they knew then that works were needed - but obviously not urgent at that point. I can’t believe the piling has deteriorated to such a degree that they need closing off immediately. Something just doesn’t ring true here.

From the BA website:- **Repairs cannot proceed until agreement is reached between the Environment Agency and the owner of the site regarding the future responsibilities for the piling. It is also not possible to start work until the Authority’s lease of the site is renewed. The St Benet’s site is leased to the Broads Authority by the landowner and is managed by the Authority as an free 24 hour mooring location. Previous works carried out by Broadland Environment Services Limited (BESL) saw the new flood bank redeveloped behind the piled edge, meaning the piles no longer form the official flood defences in this location. Under such plans the Environment Agency (responsible for flood protection measures) is no longer required to maintain the piles and the responsibility for maintaining, replacing or removing them has been offered to the landowner. The Broads Authority has been in discussion with the landowner for some time, attempting to renew their lease for this iconic mooring location. In anticipation of the lease renewal a major refurbishment of the timbering was planned by the Authority (via a tender advertised on our website) to make the site ready for the 2021/22 season. Unfortunately the refurbishment has had to be put on hold as the landowner and the Environment Agency have thus far been unable to reach an agreement on the future of the piles, meaning they may be removed and the Broads Authority has not been able to progress its lease for the site.** Stalemate then, unless the BA can purchase the moorings which I believe they have also tried to do.

So does that mean the moorings can be used by boaters from 16 June as well I wonder? Curiouser and curiouser.

Maybe ultimately that’s the plan..................🤔

Funny how double mooring wasn’t allowed last season but we are now reminded by the BA that it is allowed at St Benet’s. Covid hasn’t gone away and we will still need to act cautiously for a while yet. This is a really poor situation and one that needs sorting asap.

I believe that’s exactly what happened at Thurne Mouth when the issue couldn’t be resolved.

This sounds horribly like it could go the same way as the Thurne Mouth moorings. We can but hope things will be sorted out satisfactorily.

What an admission Andrew! Cheers -

Could one of the mods amalgamate the two threads? I’ve just noticed there are two on the go!

Definitely possible and very enjoyable as long as

As do Pacific, usually very busy and always extremely well spoken of by their customers. It can be done.

I wonder if someone at the NDAA has just been a little over-zealous with the blue marker pen? No doubt Tom will have to refer the issue to the NDAA for clarification so it may be a little while before we hear from him. I hope it’s just a silly error! 😳

Hopefully this link will tell you all you need to know Andrew - https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/boating/facilities/electric-boat-charging-points

Fair warning. 🙂

Give them a couple of weeks and they’ll be checking for tolls.............

On our first trip in 1982, we hired from Brundall, crossed Breydon and got under PH bridge! It was April and not very busy, (think it might be different this year - after the 12th of course!) I have often thought how glad I am that the internet and social media didn’t exist back then. I wonder how many have been put off crossing Breydon with these sort of warnings.

We both had the AZ vaccine, my better half had the same reaction as you whilst I had no reaction at all. Anybody know yet if the second jab produces the same reaction as the first?

Gosh Andrew, those you mention have been long gone! The northern Broads are usually noted as being more ‘picturesque’ but, to be honest, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the southern Broads have so much to offer. I believe that many hirers start off hiring in the north and are reticent to cross Breydon so never get south. Hence the north has become overcrowded.

Is anybody worried about having the OxfordAZ jab bearing in mind the fuss the EU is now making? I’m certainly not, just glad to have had a jab. If you compare the OAZ with the Pfizer vaccine, the stats really aren’t too different so I can’t understand the concern.

I must admit, I’ve seen worse. It doesn’t take long for a boat to look unloved. I wonder how it looks now...........🤔

Best ask the boatyards that question Andrew, I guess it depends on what else they want to fit in and what their priorities are.

The voices of the latter day sports presenters always remind me of my youth and growing up with a sport-mad grandfather. David Vine, Frank Bough, David Coleman, Peter O’Sullevan, Harry Carpenter and the guy (whose name escapes me) who always did the football results on tv at 5pm on a Saturday. Many others too whose voices were the comforting sounds of home. Too long ago now sadly...........☹️

Only one thing to say here - ouch!

We last took our boat under PH bridge about 6/7 years ago (well, the pilot did!). Since then there have been a few opportunities but we probably wouldn’t risk it again, it all seems too iffy. So much to have an influence on water levels. Over the years we have hired day boats too and I think that is the best way to explore the upper Thurne - no worries about getting back under the bridge!