Ideas Sought To Protect The Broads
Families and business leaders could hold the key to protecting the environment on the Norfolk Broads - and officials are seeking new ideas which could be backed up with a share of a ï¿¡200,000 grant.
The Broads Authority has today called on local people, companies and organisations to come forward with solutions which could help protect wildlife and reduce the carbon footprints of the tens of thousands of tourists who visit the Broads every year.
Each year since 2002 the government has provided ï¿¡200,000 to each of the UK’s National Parks to inspire communities to come up with bright ideas which will benefit the area.
The Broads Authority has used the money to form a sustainability fund, helping promote sustainable tourism, with green business, boating, biking and canoeing projects, education programmes and projects to help disadvantaged people.
Funding has also now been given for a study and carbon audit of the Broads to be carried out by the Cred carbon reduction programme, based at the University of East Anglia.
The study will provide a picture of where carbon emissions come from and how much is produced, so the Broads Authority can draw up a carbon reduction plan to comply with government targets.
In the past the cash has helped launch the Broads Society’s Go Electric! campaign which gave grants for eight private boat engine conversions from diesel to electric.
Subsidies have also been given to help fund the only Green Boat Show in the UK, held on Salhouse Broad in September last year.
The Hewett School in Norwich has also been given an ï¿¡8,000 grant to pilot a project, landscaping the grounds and building allotments, an amphitheatre and a wildlife garden.
A spokeswoman for the Broads Authority said: “The projects we fund are wide-ranging but have several things in common. They are all innovative, sustainable, and improve the life of people living in and working in the area. The Broads Authority is keen to help young people and support projects which do not qualify for other public funding. No project is too large or too small.â€
Some of the organisations which have benefited from funding in the past include the Norfolk Schools Sailing Association which was awarded a ï¿¡15,200 grant to buy five new Wayfarer dinghies to help introduce schoolchildren to sailing.
The boats will replace 20 year old boats which were beyond repair.
David Wrenn, commodore of the association, said: “The help and support we have been given from the Broads Authority is brilliant. It is fantastic that they are helping projects like ours that bring a benefit to the community.
“Everyone who works here is a volunteer and gives their time for free so having the grant and being able to upgrade the boats has been a big boost for us.â€
A leaflet, Bright ideas wanted, explains who and what qualifies for funding. It is available from the Broads Authority office at 18 Colegate, Norwich and at information centres.
The project follows the launch of the Broads Tourism Forum 2008 A Day in the Broads campaign with Visit Norwich, supported with funding from the Broads Authority’s sustainable development fund.
The focus of the campaign this year is to encourage green tourism with prominence being given to activities such as cycling, walking and nature spotting.
In December last year, the Evening News revealed how The Broads Authority had been awarded an extra ï¿¡1.3m of government funding over three years to be spent on important conservation projects.
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