BroadsAuthority

Missing vessel appeal The vessel pictured, registration mark H94, has been reported missing by its owner. It was moored near Cary's Meadow, Norwich on the River Yare. It was last spotted on Saturday 26 February travelling on Haddiscoe Cut towards St Olave's with two people onboard. It has not been since. It is possible that due to the nature of the vessel being slowly moved through the system that it is being taken for a 'joy ride' or has been sold on. It has been picked up on multiple CCTV cameras so if you have any photos/videos please feel free to share and report to the police. The vessel is a Freeman 23, registration H94. Norfolk Constabulary have issued crime reference 36/15521/22. They ask if anyone sees the boat to call 999 and use the What 3 Words app to provide the location. Best, Tom

Hi all, Mutford Lock closed now too. Believe it or not they have just had to turn someone away over the phone wishing to transit the lock (on a leisurely cruise I should add!). Wind speeds are currently exceeding the safe tolerances for opening Mutford Lock and bridge and so both remain closed until the weather improves. If you are aboard your vessel we urge you to avoid non-urgent travel and remain safely moored up if possible. Tom

Hi guys, I think I understand the confusion here. The reason you can't see this news under 'Notices to Mariners' is because the item is classed as 'Boating news'. It's been on there since 15 October. https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/boating/navigating-the-broads/boating-news https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/boating/navigating-the-broads/boating-news/navigation-closure-due-to-flood-defence-works-on-the-lower-bure (See item titled Navigation closure due to flood defence works on the Lower Bure) Yes there are multiple links to 'Boating News' and 'Notices to Mariners' on the site but they all go to either of these two pages. I believe we are required to keep notices for the previous year (so in this case 2020) on there for a particular amount of time before we can remove them. Notice to mariners also get included in the EDP/Evening News too. The reason this item in particular is in boating news is because 'Notices to Mariners' are generally reserved for longer-term works that are taking place well into the future. If something is happening relatively soon, say in the next month or so, it goes onto boating news. Also, note that some items are marked as 'urgent boating news' if they directly impact the navigation at the moment or there is a risk to safety, e.g. Breydon Water being closed to hire craft or the river being closed due to an ongoing incident. We suggest checking both the Notices to Mariners and boating news pages regularly for updates and I also make sure that everything goes onto our Facebook/Twitter pages too. I can also add you to our 'notices to mariners' mailing list so that you receive an email from me/a colleague every time something gets added. Just drop me a message on here or send me an email (Tom.Waterfall@broads-authority.gov.uk) giving your consent for me to do so and I'll sort it out. Finally, if you need an update on anything on there just drop me a line at Tom.Waterfall@broads-authority.gov.uk and I'll happily liase with the Ranger team and get back to you. Or phone Broads Control on 01603 756056. Cheers Tom

Gauge board kindly located by Peel Ports and will be recovered tomorrow!

Good morning all, I have been informed by Keith one of our Rangers that the gauge board on approach to Bure Mouth (near the yellow marker post) has been damaged by a vessel at some point yesterday. The board is currently missing the feet and inches gauge, although the metres gauge is still intact. We are working to rectify the issue as soon as we can and get it fixed. If you need any assistance getting through the bridges please contact Great Yarmouth Yacht Station on 07766 398238 or Broads Control on 01603 756056. The tides are still high but the overtopping seems to be a lot better today. Best Tom

Hi @Vaughan Apologies for delayed reply. We weren't informed of these delays, our Director of Operations will be discussing the matter tomorrow with the Director of Highways at NCC. Unfortunately it sounds like a number of legitimate issues have combined to stop the works from being completed within the initial planned timescale. Tom

Hi all, thank you for your questions about Ranworth and sorry for the delay. I have been on annual leave and busy with a few other bits. I have consulted with my colleagues in the Ranger team and can clarify the situation for you below: We have just opened up a new Broads Authority Visitor Centre at Ranworth in the building that was previously occupied by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT). As part of this new visitor centre, we will be offering boat trips on our electric powered vessel Liana. Liana will be moored on the right-hand side at the upper end of the dinghy dyke, however she should not block access to the rest of the dyke for other vessels. This is because Liana can only board from one side. The space previously occupied by the NWT trip boat on the other side of the dinghy dyke will no longer be used by the NWT. The space marked on the map in dark red and which is signposted is a new ferry spot which can be used by anyone (including the NWT, other organisations or other businesses) wishing to offer a ferry service for the loading/unloading of passengers. It is restricted to the area denoted by the red line on the map above, which is approximately 10 metres in length. There will be no mooring or waiting in this area by commercial vessels other than for the loading and unloading of passengers. Any ferry vessel occupying the space whilst loading/unloading will need to move for boats trying to access or leave the 24-hour moorings at all times. The spot will not be occupied by ferry vessels overnight and the NWT boat will be kept at their nearby floating visitor centre after trips have finished for the day. I have been assured that as with all new proposals this situation will be monitored and if there appears to be an issue it will be reviewed. Thanks, Tom (Map is copyright OS)

Hi all, good news to share with you (and no it isn't an April fools joke before someone asks!) Best, Tom Progress update on St Benet’s Abbey 24 hour moorings (1 April) The Broads Authority is delighted that following negotiations with the Environment Agency and the Landowner an agreement has been reached regarding the future of the 24 hour mooring at St Benet’s Abbey. This iconic mooring location on the River Bure has been secured as a Broads Authority 24-hour mooring as the future of the piling has now been resolved. The legal agreements are being drawn up, but in the meantime the Authority will make some emergency repairs to the worst section of the timbering at St Benet’s. These will commence next week, once the timber has been delivered. The main contract to refurbish the whole 300m length of mooring is now planned for the middle of April. The work has been devised to allow small sections to be worked upon at a time, allowing the rest of the available area to be used by boaters. https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/boating/navigating-the-broads/boating-news/progress-update-on-st-benets-abbey-24-hour-moorings-1-april

Cheers Alan, was just coming on here to post but you've beaten me to it as usual!

Sorry for the double post but here's the update as promised. Best, Tom Progress update on St Benet’s Abbey 24 hour moorings (23 March) As reported last week, the Authority took the decision to barrier off approximately half of the length of our St Benet’s 24 hour moorings due to safety concerns. We understand boaters’ frustrations with this news and have an update to issue on this matter to provide further context and re-assurance. As reported to Broads Authority Members on Friday 19 March, the Broads Authority has a lease agreement to use the piling and a small strip of land as a free 24-hour mooring. This lease runs until 2027. The potential piling removal at St Benet’s has been known to the Authority since 2019. Three exempt (pink) papers have been before the Authority’s Navigation Committee in June 2019, July 2019 and January 2020, outlining this risk and suggesting a course of action that could resolve the matter. This remedy contained financial information, hence the confidentiality of the reports. The proposed solution within the pink papers was endorsed by the Navigation Committee and we have been working towards that outcome. In 2020, the Authority successfully negotiated with the Landowner and had a verbal agreement on the details of a new 25-year lease. This lease agreed a suitable rent, and saw the Authority take full maintenance responsibilities for the piling, site maintenance, site safety and on-going safety checks. Using the assurances in place that a lease was forthcoming, the Authority started a tender process which would see the capping and waling (the mooring timber work) replaced. The value of this contract was £48,000. The contract was programmed to begin in March 2021 and last for approximately 6 weeks, with the mooring being fully available by mid-April, to coincide with the Government’s roadmap of easing lockdown. During February 2021, we were made aware of an issue whereby the Landowner had not signed the agreement with the Environment Agency (EA) for the piling responsibilities. The Landlord’s Solicitors had raised a concern on a particular indemnity clause within the EA contract. This matter was referred to the EA’s solicitors, so the two legal firms could discuss and find a solution. Whilst the Landlord’s solicitors and the EA’s solicitors discussed the legal issue, the Broads Authority was left without a legally binding lease, the need for a substantial investment in timber work, and no guarantees that the piling would remain. Therefore, we delayed the maintenance work until the situation was resolved. We took the view that the Authority should not invest £48,000 of toll payers money on a location that was under threat of being removed. We have now spoken to all parties and have given our assurances and commitment that the Broads Authority will cover the Landlord’s indemnity clause and that the Broads Authority will be responsible for the piles going forward. This is in line with our original plan, however the landlord of the site had required independent legal advice and also had every right to seek assurances. Our chosen contractor is still ready to commence works and they are planning a methodology that will see small section of the timber worked on at a time, allowing the mooring site to operate with only short sections unavailable. We are therefore hopeful for an agreement between all parties by early next week, enabling us to have a two week window to begin the work at this iconic mooring site before lockdown is eased further on 12 April. Please be assured that we are busy working to secure this vital location’s future as a Broads Authority free 24-hour mooring.

Hi all, thanks for the comments and questions raised. I should have an update for you shortly on this matter at St Benet's. All the best, Tom

Hi Peter and all, I've had an update this afternoon from Rob our Director of Ops. regarding the SBA moorings. I've just published it on our website: https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/boating/navigating-the-broads/boating-news/update-on-st-benets-abbey-24-hour-mooring Tom

Hi all, The repairs at St Benet's are currently being assessed by our maintenance team, we hope to be able to issue updated communications as early as next week. All the best, Tom

Hi all, thank you all for the questions regarding the St Benet’s Abbey 24-hour moorings. I have spoken to Rob our Director of Operations and despite the updates to the NDAA website I have been assured that there haven’t been any changes to the usage of the moorings. It is still a 24-hour mooring and boats still have priority over anglers. If you click on the blue line over the stretch on the NDAA website it does say that ‘12 pegs available on this section. Boats take priority 16th June - 31st October’ which is an accurate description. In December 2020 a paper went to The Broads Local Access Forum about the site, however it was about opening up access to Environment Agency owned banks for anglers and doesn't affect the Broads Authority mooring. Hope that re-assures you, All the best! Tom

Message received Peter, will speak to colleagues and come back to you all. This is the first I have heard of it. Tom

Thanks Meantime, I fully appreciate and understand your (and others) comments in this thread. It's correct that some of what we have been told to relay by DEFRA, particularly around the hire of open-topped boats from 8 March, is somewhat at odds with the legislation about those businesses being required to be closed at the moment. We and others have raised our concerns with them about this and as far as I am aware they are seeking to iron it out with the Cabinet Office at the moment. Interestingly in the EDP article it seems that there hasn't been much appetite for it anyway due to the frankly atrocious weather. All the best Tom

Hi Meantime, Although there are still details that need to be ironed out, all of the new information on our site regarding the COVID-19 roadmap has come directly from DEFRA via email discussions between the BA/EA/CRT/BM and DEFRA officials. I believe that DEFRA officials are still in the process of clarifying a few things with the Cabinet Office to refine the information further, and any changes will be communicated on our website as before. Tom

Hi Cambridge, To aid cash flow problems with the hire yards during the COVID lockdowns, they did not have to pay a toll on vessels that were laid up/in storage. However the moment that a yard took the decision to hire a particular vessel out, the full annual toll was payable on that particular vessel. Thanks, Tom

Hi Peter, Our Rangers and Quay Assistants have first aid training and all get trained up to a RYA Powerboat Level 2 qualification. We have in-house staff in the Ranger and Visitor Services teams who are qualified/certified RYA approved instructors and are able to train others. Hope that helps!

No, wide-scale Lifesize outages... Please see: https://status.lifesizecloud.com/ We will post a new date and time for the reconvened meeting as soon as possible. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Sorry, should add as relevant to this thread - I am not aware of any such discussions around cars and the Broads. I'd be very surprised if any bans came into effect in any of the National Parks family any time soon due to the lack of public transport infrastructure these rural areas. We work with public transport providers like Greater Anglia/First Bus to promote the public transport options when visiting the Broads/Norfolk/Suffolk, however other than going by water, unfortunately much of the area is still only really accessible by car. (Or bike if you are feeling energetic, or foot if you have a lot of time to spare!) Tom

Other than the odd comment on Facebook by paddlers themselves there has not been any lobbying from paddle sports organisations to the Broads Authority through any of the lockdowns as far as I am aware. As one of the team responsible for publishing messages from the BA (both COVID-related and not) I can say for certain the reason that paddling was 'allowed' in our guidance was because it clearly fitted the Government's definition of exercise (which was/is a reasonable excuse to leave home). Tom

The BFI is lead by the Environment Agency, not the Broads Authority. We are supporting the Project Team and governance arrangements You can read more here under the who's involved section: https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/looking-after/climate-change/broadland-futures-initiative Tom

Despite what some of the above comments imply it is not a full-time job role or a requirement that the authority has taken 9 years to respond to. This role receives a very modest annual allowance (sub £1000) and is required by all local authorities under the Localism Act 2011. It is not a new role, nor is it specific to the Broads Authority, it is just perhaps the first time we have advertised it on our social media. If you wish to read the same advert from 2016, here it is - https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/news/appointment-of-independent-persons-for-the-broads-authority From speaking to my colleagues in the Governance team I believe there was a 'retirement'. Here is the relevant section of the act - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/20/section/28/enacted Tom

FYI this information is not current, it was from after lockdown 1 and it says on the page that the guidance has been superseded - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation/guidance-for-the-public-on-the-phased-return-of-outdoor-sport-and-recreation "From Thursday 5 November, national restrictions supersede the contents of this guidance document, in particular where the document refers to Local COVID Alert Levels. This guidance document can still be used by those businesses which are permitted to operate under the national restrictions, to support those businesses to operate safely." I am sure we will have an update today. Thanks, Tom