Extra £1.3m grant to boost broads

The RSPB said action needs to be taken to protect the Broads

A major wetland is to receive £1.3m extra funding over the next three years to help restore fragile ecosystems.

Defra has given the Broads Authority £4.30m in National Park Grant for the Norfolk and Suffolk waterways.

Minister Jonathan Shaw said: "For the restoration of broads ecosystems I will provide £500,000 in year one and £400,000 in years two and three."

Additional grant was used on dredging, but this is no longer allowed so the money will go to improve habitat.

Ministers have now decided these costs should be funded entirely from navigation income and tolls.

Last month the authority decided on an 11% increase for private toll payers and 7% for the hire boat industry to continue the increased maintenance of the navigation.

Broads Authority chairman Kerry Turner said: "This will generate an estimated increase of £120,000 in income and a total budget for the maintenance of the navigation of £2.21m.

"As the Additional National Park Grant cannot be used for navigation expenditure the increase in tolls is still necessary to support the level of maintenance that users are seeking.

"The contributions from the government and toll payers will allow us to continue the programme of improvement to the broads natural environment for the benefit of wildlife and all the different users," he said.