BroadsAuthority

Hi all, It's great to see lots of discussion here on water safety and advocacy of lifejackets/buoyancy aids. It seems most of you are experienced boaters but if anyone is new to the boating scene a glance over our safety and boating tips pages could be helpful (enjoy the old videos too!) https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/boating/navigating-the-broads/safety https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/boating/navigating-the-broads/boating-beginners Tom

It's on our website here and has been for some time: https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/looking-after/managing-land-and-water/staithes-of-the-broads

Hello all, To make the situation absolutely clear this is a decision that has been made by the Whitlingham Charitable Trust. The service level agreement (SLA) was coming to an end and of course it is within the interest of the Trust members to explore options that best suit their future strategy for the park. It would really be up to the Trust to decide if they wish to communicate further detail regarding the reasons for their decision. Furthermore, the process could not accurately be described as a negotiation or a 'disagreement' (to use Jenny Morgan's words) however, Broads Authority officers provided the Trust with a considerable body of detail to support a case for retaining the Authority as a partner up to this decision being made. There isn't a governance issue regarding this matter as this is not a Broads Authority decision. We communicated this decision as soon as we had enough detail to do so. If there are any ‘public interest’ matters concerning the ongoing provision of a country park, these should really be addressed to the Trust.

Hi all, It's worth noting that a number of the aforementioned visitor centres were closed when the government cuts took place a few years ago, rather than them not being successful/financially viable/well visited. Please be assured that a suitable location will be a key consideration for any longer term visitor centre plans. It wouldn't really be fair to say that Visitor Centres have had their day. We still receive visits from tens of thousands of people each year in our centres who are looking for information about the local area, things to do etc. We currently see websites and other digital media working in tandem with physical visitor centres, rather than replacing them. This is largely the model across the rest of the UK National Parks family too.

Hi everyone, Tom here to clarify a few points: 1. The nearby 24 hour moorings are leased to us and we are working towards retaining them as part of our network. 2. Ra was enjoyed by around 3,500 visitors during the 2018 season, including many disabled visitors and groups. We are currently exploring alternative locations to redeploy Ra and continue offering the trip. 3. Given the Trusts decision, we are now considering alternative locations for a visitor centre and education activities. However, we would like to stress that the outcome of negotiations at Whitlingham is totally independent from the project at Acle. Whilst we have expressed a desire to build a visitor and education centre there, it would be impossible to have such a building constructed and ready to use by April 2020 (even if funding for such a building could be found). Our current priority is the immediate need to have replacement Tourist Information facilities in place for next season. 4. You are correct JennyMorgan, the statement was mutually agreed by us and the Trust. Any enquiries on their future plans should be directed to them. Thanks

Hi JanetAnne, Without going into masses of detail the 3m margin applies as a general rule on the upper stretches of the main rivers. However in stretches where the river is thinner the margin is liable to be reduced (for example at Geldeston Dyke) so that there's a larger navigable area. Thanks, Tom

Hi Boycee, I've heard back from a colleague and we are aware of the areas you refer to in your message. The growths were left there in accordance with the Environment Agency's guidance of there being a 3 metre margin, however it sounds like this may have been exceeded now. The growths in question (along with all margins we leave) are there for environmental reasons including providing a site for fish spawning and helping with water oxygenation. I've asked if the section could be checked next time someone is in the area to assess whether cutting needs to take place. Thanks, Tom

Good morning Paladin, I can only assume there's reasoning for this area being left to grow out, however without speaking to some of my colleagues I can't be sure. I've followed up internally and will come back to you on here when I hear back. Thanks, Tom

Hi SPEEDTRIPLE, Just wanted to assure you that there's no secret agenda for us being on here. I'm on here representing the Broads Authority to hopefully answer your questions, share some useful information and to help wherever I can. I work within the Communications Team at the BA, so I certainly don't know the answer to everything, but I'm always able to go and have a chat to the relevant officers when required. Just for a bit of context, we did have an account on the other Broads Forum and had been aware of Norfolk Broads Network for awhile, it took some time to get an account set up and get the resources in place to start using it as a direct way to engage with you all. Thanks, Tom

Good morning Boycee, I've let David our lead weedcutter know about this and hopefully we'll be able to address the problem areas next time we're near Beccles - I'll keep you updated when I hear anything back. Cheers, Tom

Hi dnks34, These days many electric vehicles aren't considerably more expensive to buy than ones powered by traditional petrol/diesel, unless you're talking about Teslas or BMW i8s (which unfortunately I don't think are entirely appropriate for our use!). We are also able to take advantage of discounted prices through our procurement process, reducing the cost further. We currently have one electric vehicle, a Renault Zoe, which was modestly priced and is popular in the office. It has a range of 180 + miles which is very usable for getting around the Broads area. Many modern electric vehicles thankfully aren't constrained by the poor infrastructure and usability of earlier models. As Peter has alluded to in his comment, we're committed to trying to reduce emissions where possible and replacing some of our older pool vehicles with electric ones is an obvious/easy win and is a chance for us to lead the way. It's worth mentioning that other bodies such as the Environment Agency already have a large fleet of electric vehicles. With regards to what's next... office heating/lighting, assessing the suppliers we use for services, evaluating the impact of goods we procure and increasing green initiatives in the office are all things which are being looked at (to name just a few). Reducing carbon impact is one of those things that can be achieved in a myriad of far-reaching ways and making some easy wins is a good place to start. I'll also testify that our office temperature is chilly at the best of times! Tom

Hi all (Tom here, directly involved with the production of our newsletters), 1. Tree-cutting is not just taking place on the Ant, this is just what's programmed in for the coming weeks. Cutting takes place in pockets all-year round, it's just that the Ant is the current focus and was what our CME team wanted to highlight in this month's newsletter. As Marshman has stated we are just one partner in a complex system involving private landowners, Environment Agency, Natural England etc. 'Red tape' is there for a reason and ensures that works are undertaken properly and are in accordance with the correct regulations that we at the Authority have to abide to. It isn't just a case of anyone turning up and starting to chop down trees (and disposal is of course another part of the process to consider). Overall, bankside management is one of those tasks where there's often more than meets the eye, and there's also lot of area to manage. Thankfully we have a pool of amazing volunteers to draw upon to help us out with the task. If anyone has noticed any particular problem areas (and this goes for dredging and water plant growth too) simply let me know and I can personally make sure that the relevant people are made aware of it within the Authority. Most of the time we can act upon it quickly, and if not, it can be programmed in for a future time when we have the resources to deal with it. 2. Addressing comments about 'trumpet blowing' and there 'not being much to update on' - we (John and the Communications Team) produce these newsletters monthly to communicate what we're currently up to (and what we have been up to) with you, our stakeholders. We were criticised on this forum (and others) in the past for not including enough navigation/maintenance related information, so we've started to make sure that more updates on these topics are in the briefings. We try to ensure there's a balance of topics covered, and none of it is written in a way that is purposely self-aggrandising. 3. FWIW unless in specific exceptions (I can't think of any currently) the Boat and Bat trips at Whitlingham and any other tourism initiatives aren't funded by the navigation account - they're separate budgets. If anyone has any more questions please feel free to come back to me and I'll try my best to help. Have a good evening, Tom

Hi all, Just wanted to let you know that after the furore on Facebook the other week, works to replace the missing channel markers on Breydon Water have commenced on Monday this week and will be running for approx. two weeks. We're replacing the missing ones with more durable steel posts and will be swapping out the temporary buoys that mark out the channel for new posts too. All vessels are asked to exercise caution when navigating in the area. Thanks, Tom

Thanks for the link @oldgregg, certainly an interesting read and you raise a good point about the need to not fly in built-up areas, even in the relatively quiet (at times) Broads! We support the guidance given in the article. Drone flying has become popular here and it's important that the legislation is enforced and education is given to people. There's a lot of nature reserves, ancient monuments and wildlife here that can be quite easily disturbed or damaged by drones, so we fully support responsible piloting. Off the top of my head we haven't had any notable reports or incidents of 'drone misuse' here in the Broads. That isn't to say we haven't heard about people flying in less than favourable areas from time-to-time. There's guidance on our website if anyone is interested: https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/visiting/drone-use Best, Tom

Hi Vanessan, You can listen to the piece on the Radio Norfolk website here, although it is split up over the course of a few hours - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p07kdt7x We aren't sure what specifically prompted the piece either, we were approached last week to provide comment/statistics and to take part in an interview. As marshman mentioned above, speeding is an issue that's been around as long as the Broads have been a popular visitor destination and isn't exactly a new problem. We do receive a significant number of reports, some of which include evidence and information that is extremely useful. However, many of the speeding reports are too vague or do not include sufficient evidence that would help us take further action. Tom

Hi all, Just had a chat with colleagues in the Construction team to clarify a few points. Can confirm that the works are well out of the way taking place in North Bay and shouldn't affect either Oulton Week or the Powerboat racing (which takes place in the evenings). Thanks, Tom

Good morning everyone, I thought some members may want to know about an upcoming Broads Authority auction. We are holding sealed-bid auctions to sell off two former abandoned vessels (sold separately). The vessels are Clair De Lune (a 5.7m GRP/Timber Yacht, registration number 871P) and Troy (a 5.25m GRP Pegasus Pirate Yacht, registration number M251). I have attached photos of both vessels to this post, however there is a PDF on our website with more pictures. Bidding is conducted via a sealed-bid process and must be submitted using the Form of Offer paperwork (on the link below) by 12 noon on Friday 20 September 2019. For further information, including details of an opportunity to view the vessels and for more details on how to submit a bid, please visit our website: https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/news/sealed-bid-auctions-of-two-yachts Thanks, Tom

Hi everyone, Thought you may be interested in reading our latest Broads Briefing for July 2019 as it includes a number of updates on navigation and maintenance works in the Broads. You can read it here: http://bit.ly/31faaB4 And sign up using this link if desired: http://eepurl.com/cTKqgP (you might need to check your spam folder for the confirmation email). Thanks and have a good weekend, Tom

With the recent hot weather and rise in popularity of wild swimming we'll be increasing our safety messaging about the dangers of swimming in the Broads over the coming weeks. You may have already seen our webpage on outdoor swimming but if not here it is: https://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/boating/navigating-the-broads/outdoor-swimming Also thank you for posting that article link @JennyMorgan. It was interesting to read the incident at Horstead Mill being quoted as an example of dangerous swimming when that exact location was featured in a 'Norfolk's Top 5 wild swimming spots' article in the EDP on 25 July where visitors were being encouraged to try outdoor swimming in the Broads (with very limited mention of the risks of swimming). This of course was rather concerning to us and we're keen to re-iterate that although we accept that members of the public are entitled to outdoor swim as they wish (providing it is in a legal manner), they should do so accepting the risks and being fully aware of the safety implications both for themselves and other river traffic. Tom

Hi @JennyMorgan, I’ve just had a chat with the team responsible for cutting. Cutting Sluttons was on our plan to be cut in early July but unfortunately we have been diverted onto the main navigation in Norwich as plant growth is significant there. We also had a weeks delay with our machine which partially sunk at Beccles (cause unknown) which caused a slight delay and meant that Sluttons was not cut when originally planned. We are returning to the area after cutting on the Upper Yare and Wensum and the cut should hopefully take place during the 2nd or 3rd week of August when we return to the Waveney for its second cut. Water levels and temperatures are meaning that plant growth is even more significant than normal and we are working hard to keep everywhere clear as possible. Hope that’s helpful, Tom

Hi JawsOrca, I've just had another chat with Control and VHF12 is definitely monitored but only in control. I was informed that we much prefer people to call in using the phone number provided as there's often a lot of discussion between incoming sea vessels and the port in Yarmouth which makes it hard to pick up other messages.

Hi @stumpy The reception number (quoted in the OP) is manned 9-5 Monday to Friday and is the best one for general queries. If you have queries on navigation, safety or are reporting incidents please use the River Control one on 01603 756056 or VHF channel 12 (manned between the hours of 9am and 6pm in summer, 9am and 5pm in winter). For emergencies outside of this time please contact BroadsBeat or the Coastguard on 999. Tom

Hi all, As of this morning Reedham has been fixed and is operational again, however unfortunately Somerleyton is still having difficulties due to the heat. Tom

Hi all, We thought you would like some accurate information about the number and role of our Rangers: We have a single Ranger Team with 12 full-time Rangers year-round, 2 Winter Weekend Rangers and 6 Summer Seasonal Rangers all of whom are trained and capable of performing a multitude of tasks including both 'navigational' duties and 'conservation' duties (such as tree management and bankside clearance). We also have 40 active Volunteer Rangers who also receive a high level of training and are absolutely invaluable in providing support to our staff. In total, 60% of Ranger time is devoted to 'navigational' duties which is paid for from navigation income. Engaging with the public, providing advice and offering assistance to visitors where possible is a key part of the working remit for all of our Rangers - our staff certainly haven't been discouraged to undertake these duties. As we hope you can understand, there are often pressures created by the fact that we have limited resources and a large area to work on, so sometimes Rangers may be preoccupied and unable to have a chat. If this is the case and you are ever in need of help, we would always urge you to call Broads Control on 01603 756056 so we can log your incident and get you assistance if required. It's pleasant to see so many reports of positive experiences with our front line staff being discussed in this thread, however I can see some criticisms too. Without knowing details of the particular incident it's difficult to comment, but please remember that if you are ever unhappy with how any of our staff have dealt with you, please get in touch with us and let us know by using our online contact form and we will follow up if appropriate. Thanks! Tom

Hello everyone, We just wanted to announce that we've managed to get an account sorted on the forum now. Thank you to the administrators for helping get everything approved. We're looking forward to getting involved with more discussions on here and engaging with forum members on topics related to the Broads. If you have any non-urgent questions or issues that you would like to bring to our attention please either mention us (using the @ function) or drop us a private message. For an urgent response we'd still recommend either giving us a call on 01603 610734 or sending us a message via our contact form as these will be dealt with using the official channels. Our account will primarily be monitored by our small communications team, however advice and guidance from other members of staff across departments will be sought and relayed as necessary. We are on here to help and advise where necessary, rather than tolerating abuse. Moderators have advised us to inform them of any incidents and they will be dealt with through the regular forum protocol. Finally, please bear with us if answers or input takes longer than expected as we won't be monitoring the account on a constant basis. We'll try to get back to you as soon as possible. Many thanks, Tom