Events in Norfolk and Suffolk / Norfolk Broads / Tourist Attractions Norfolk and Suffolk / Waveney Valley May 1, 2008
Broads Authority dredging takeover pays off
The Broads Authority has achieved more dredging for the same money in the first five months of taking over the Broads dredging service from its long-term contractor May Gurney.
Director of Waterways, Trudi Wakelin, said this increased efficiency meant they were on course to carry out 25% more dredging in this financial year, focusing especially on critical areas of shallow water such as Heigham Sound at the entrance to Hickling Broad and Oulton Broad.
The Authority bought May Gurney’s dockyard and dredging equipment, taking on its dredging team of ten men on October 1st last year.
At a meeting of its Navigation Committee on Thursday April 24th it was revealed that money had been saved by the Broads Authority undertaking its own dredging and river works, scrub clearance and removal of navigation obstructions.
Tony Coe, vice chairman of the Broads Authority, heralded the saving as justification of the “brave move” to bring the operation in-house.
He said: “This is very good news for the Broads. We have closely monitored the dredging operation since taking over from May Gurney and we have achieved savings against the previous cost of dredging between October and the end of February. This will obviously bring better value for tollpayers, who fund the programme, as we will be able to carry out more dredging for the same amount of money.”
Trudi Wakelin said assuming government funding remained at the same level, the Broads Authority would now be in a position to finish the immense backlog of dredging in less than 40 years, compared to the previously projected 56 years.
“In Oulton Broad we will now be looking to take out three times the material that we had originally planned. Because of the sensitive area we can’t undertake work at Heigham Sound over the summer and have planned it for next winter.”
Examples of dredging work completed in the past year have included:
South Walsham Fleet Dyke
The lower River Ant to Ludham Bridge. Work is continuing upstream as far as Barton Broad.
Opposite Horning Church on the River Bure
Entrance to Hardley Dyke.
The Reedham end of Haddiscoe Cut. Dredging at the St Olaves end will begin again in the autumn.
Shoals on the River Yare
Oulton Broad, 10% of the bar at the entrance to the broad has been removed and work will continue until July this year.
