What has changed?

 

 

 

      

 

 

 

                                               

 

 

                                          

Extract from Broads Authority Mooring
Strategy Update 2017 

 

5. Principle of Free 24 Hour Moorings

 

5.1 One of the key principles of the Moorings Strategy has been to “Maintain free use of Broads Authority unmanned moorings”. Currently the Authority only charges for mooring at the two Yacht Stations at Norwich and Great Yarmouth which have Broads Authority staff in attendance and provide services such as showers and toilets. 

 

5.2 This issue has been debated at length by the Navigation Committee in recent years: in 2006 when the Mooring Strategy was first adopted, in 2009 when the Strategy was reviewed, in 2013 when the Integrated Access Strategy was adopted and at the moorings workshop in November 2014. It has also been debated in relation to two specific sites, Ranworth and Reedham. On every occasion the Committee and the Authority has supported the current policy.

 

5.3 The officer view is that the current policy is the right one for the following reasons:

(i) For most sites the cost of collecting mooring fees is likely to be outweighed by the costs of collection;

(ii) It could be seen as a deterrent to visitors to the Broads who have already paid significant amounts for the hire of a boat;

(iii) Private boat owners will quite correctly think that their toll should cover the cost of the provision and maintenance of moorings;

(iv) Landowners are likely to demand higher rents for the leasing of mooring sites if the Authority is levying a charge. 

So, what's changed, apart from the Broads Authority's attitude to impose charges?