Martin Barber/BBC
The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads is a picturesque stretch of waterways that spans 125 miles (200km). However, not all boaters using these waterways have been abiding by the rules set out by the Broads Authority. In 2024, the authority issued 1,708 notices to boat owners, which accounts for approximately 14% of the 12,000 vessels that navigate the Broads each year. This information was reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Since the beginning of 2025, the Broads Authority has made the decision to increase tolls by an average of 5.9% for most types of watercraft. Bill Housden, a senior figure at the authority responsible for toll collection, noted that the problem of non-payment has been escalating in recent years. Up until a few years ago, only around 400 notices were issued annually, but this number has since multiplied.
John Packman, the chief executive of the Broads Authority, emphasized the importance of paying tolls in a timely manner. He stated that while 6,000 individuals have already paid their dues promptly, others have chosen to disregard the rules, leading to financial strain on compliant boaters. Furthermore, the authority is also addressing the growing issue of abandoned and wrecked vessels within the Broads, with six boats already sinking in the River Yare in the first four months of 2025
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