Dredging

apollo

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From http://bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=25687

As I have said before, if Broads can show some forward thinking, why not the EA?

Can we have the Broads Authority run the Thames please???
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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
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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.

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Good to hear but I dont think I can wait that long ! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
OK, on a serious note, just what dredging do you expect the EA to carry out?

As I read it their brief is only to maintain a navigable channel. There does not appear to be any obligation for them to dredge bankside and, in many places, bankside is more likely to be the responsibility of the riparian owners.

Take the Eton side of the river at Windsor as a case in point. We all know how shallow it is alongside the Brocas but I doubt the EA see it as their responsibility.

The problems at Benson lock, however, I would regard as very much within their purview as the shoals appear to restrict the navigation.
 
I expect my boat to be able to float in the river!

And as I have said before, not much point being able to float up and down the middle if I cannot tie up anywhere!

Its that simple. Get the basics right.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I expect my boat to be able to float in the river!

And as I have said before, not much point being able to float up and down the middle if I cannot tie up anywhere!

Its that simple. Get the basics right.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've been saying it for years - get some wheels fitted to the underside of the hull next time your boat is lifted out, then you'll be alright.

After all, we are soon to be paying road tax on our fuel, so why not put wheels on the boat and drive to a cheaper filling station /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Then again, I guess they'd be after us for MOT and a tax disc, no wait we already have those! (BSS & River Licence)
 
[ QUOTE ]
I've been saying it for years - get some wheels fitted to the underside of the hull next time your boat is lifted out, then you'll be alright.

After all, we are soon to be paying road tax on our fuel, so why not put wheels on the boat and drive to a cheaper filling station /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Please don't encouage him Darren, it's bad enough him driving it on the river ! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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