Posted at 4th January 2008 13:43Private but muddied waters.
SHOCK HORROR – OULTON BROAD PRIVATE WATER
Historically, Tod Corbett (1922), Howard Hollingsworth (1929) and others gave sections of the bottom of Oulton Broad and Oulton Dyke to Lowestoft Corporation. I won copies of both of these two Deeds of Gift from the council. This is clearly what persuaded the Crown Estate to relinquish their claim to the bed of Oulton Broad on March 23rd 1955 in favour of Lowestoft Corporation. For anyone of an inquisitive nature, records and correspondence are archived at Kew. Ref: 58/363/091112. The council acquired the area around Colman's dyke surprisingly late - about mid/early seventies from Reckitt & Colman and this acquisition included the bed of Carlton Ham.
Then we had a situation where the local council owned nearly all the bed of Oulton Broad (beyond a few riparian houses) and as private water, the Port & Haven Commissioners were unable to charge river tolls. This provided Bill Solomon his power base as harbour master – his employers owned the place! I suspect (from pre-war RN&SYC Sailing Committee minutes) that GYP&HC may have had an historic obligation only to dredge a ten foot channel from the lock - which probably dates from Lowestoft to Norwich Navigation Co. Perhaps I should explain that Russell Colman was RN&SYC commodore for roughly a decade and a half and simultaneously chaired the commissioners.
Martin Broom, currently chairman of the Broads Authority Navigation Committee recalls that whilst he served as a commissioner, Waveney District Council approached GYP&HC for assistance with dredging Oulton Broad. The Commissioners agreed to dredge the Broad on the condition they were allowed to collect river tolls. Knowing the efficiency of David McClean, late clerk to Great Yarmouth Port Authority, full records will still be available. However it now seems the Broads Authority has welched on the deal and should probably cease to charge river tolls for the use of Oulton Broad. After so long, one has to doubt the sincerity of the Broads Authority’s attempts to dredge Oulton. Their position and powers to police power boat racing may also be questionable on this basis.
Disposal of dredging spoil has become a hackneyed and devalued excuse for inactivity. The Broads Authority were dedcently offered use of an area of marsh by Ivy Farm Hotel for spoil disposal at least three years ago and they’ve always had powers of compulsory purchase; where the threat should be sufficient to ensure marshland is made available. Despite visits to ministers, the intervention of the local MP – there has been a big fat NOTHING. Press reports of even Squibs running aground during winter races are now common place – whatever is it going to be like in the summer? Oulton Broad probably doesn’t have very long without urgent and significant dredging – it seems to be silting at the rate of about a foot every ten years. The Broad is locally important and supports a large number of jobs; provides the greatest public access to any broad from the Nicholas Everitt Park and its position as the third largest tourism location within Waveney brings special local significance. Meanwhile, the Broads Authority provides everything except effective action. I doubt their sincerity.
Part of the key to this equation has to lie in the parlous and well-advertised financial state of Waveney District Council. They ought to be delighted to see any work or improvements carried out on their behalf within their District, particularly when it can be carried out at no expense to themselves. Consider a few options: WDC also owns the Nicholas Everitt Park, much of which is now below the level of the waterside flood defences. It should be permissible to build up the grassed area, say half of it in one year and providing a raised park area – and describe the work as flood defences. The pill could be further sweetened by an application of BA Sustainable Development Funding to improve the excellent network of footpaths around Oulton Broad. The WREN land fill grant scheme might also add to the sums available. Much of the groundwork for this has already been covered by the Oulton Broad Community Enterprise group. Hey Presto! Major improvements to Oulton Broad. All that is lacking is the will to make it happen. JFDI.
The year before the Crown Commission gave up their claim to the bed of Oulton Broad (they don’t claim Lake Lothing either) the area now apparently known as Jensen’s Island (recently scene of much public, am-dram style, hand-wringing by Broads Authority staff over disposal of dredging spoil) officially moved from above, to below the High Water mark. The implication of this is that (then Lowestoft Corporation) had a claim over the land. Gus Jensen only ever owned the freehold of the eastern third of what has become known as Jensen’s Island and this is the freehold that found its way to Suffolk Wildlife, courtesy of Peter & George Catchpole. I've been into Waveney DC and looked through their 'Terrier' property records. These records don’t have to be correct but they show that Suffolk Wildlife only leases two thirds of Jensen’s Island from WDC, together with an area to the north of Oulton Dyke. The precise wording of this lease is worthy of investigation but there seems scope for a deal over the land between WDC and the Broads Authority. Of course they could have threatened to CPO any old marshland years ago but WDC would probably be grateful for the cash. Peter Waller reminded me of the origin of the name Slutton’s Dyke. I wonder who it was named after? Never can find a slutton when you need one!
Whilst on the subject of Private Waters, mention should be made of additional DEFRA funding. It has to be said that if the Broads Authority had kept their eyes on the job and not let the rivers get too bad, much of this would have been unnecessary – but they were far too important to listen – even to their own committees. Additional funding is nevertheless welcome. It just seems that Blackbeard is extraordinarily difficult to pin down on the applications for additional funding. The initial tranche was described in early correspondence with DEFRA and released under FoI as ‘funding for the backlog of dredging’. The purpose of the funding morphed over the years of correspondence to include far wider topics. Considerable sums were spent on: Broads Tourism Strategy (£70k and subsequently unactioned) Branding the Broads (initially £30k and also subsequently unactioned). I’m sure there are other examples, including the ineptly handled Private Bill, which could yet generate costs that spiral further out of control. Surely someone at DEFRA keeps an eye on what is beginning to look like personal indulgence?
Public expenditure on waters that are not accessible to the public is politically unacceptable and utterly unjustifiable – never mind in a quasi National Park. The owner of Barnby Broad who accepted public funding and then charged members of the public £5 for opening one hour in a year is, as they say in London, throwing peas up your back and telling you it’s raining. If private broads are going to have public money spent on them, they must be opened up for public access. By all means keep non-tidal water private – but in that event owners should expect to cover the costs of their own indulgence.
Public funding is likely to become more difficult to apportion with an in-house dredging operation. How will we tell or ensure that overheads attached to the old May Gurney dredging operation and funded from the navigation budget are correctly allocated and charged to, for example conservation operations? Please remember that despite considerable benefit to the public at large, the navigation lobby are the only direct contributors to river maintenance; conservationists, walkers, even local publicans contribute nothing.
Are there any current or historic grounds to expect straightforward dealing? Back I fear, to the breach of trust.
A Friday pm blogging, just to ensure there’s not too great a celebration of POETS day in Colegate.
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Category: Tourism.