Broads Authority considering restrictions on paddleboarders on the waterway
The numbers are growing steadily
A senior member of the Broads Authority has suggested that restrictions may have to be introduced on the growing numbers of paddleboarders now using the waterways.
Daniel Thwaites, who is on the authority’s navigation committee, raised the issue at a recent meeting, saying measures were needed because some parts of the waterways had become too busy to be safe for paddleboarders.
The hobby is among the fastest-growing sports in the UK, with the Broads seeing an explosion in use of the boards in recent summers.
But with the growing numbers have come mounting concerns about safety and the dangers of accidents involving other river craft.
Mr Thwaites, who is also a financial director for hire firm Barnes Brinkcraft, told the Broads Authority it should consider restricting paddleboarders from some busy areas, such as Wroxham.
“You’ve got the Vintage Broadsman a large passenger vessel there, you’ve got my hire boats. This is an accident waiting to happen,” he said.
“We restrict water skiing, we restrict other things, we have got to start doing that. It’s only a matter of time before we talk about a paddleboard person getting run over.
“I am 100pc for them, I just want to make them safe.”
Mr Thwaite said people renting paddleboards were less of a concern because they are given instruction on using them safely.
But he said most owners “do not know the BA exists” or that they should pay tolls to use the waterways.
He suggested “great big signs” that tell people not to go to certain areas on paddleboards.
“I’m sorry, I feel it’s important that we do this now before we have to do it, as soon as someone gets run over and killed then we are going to have to do something.”
Leslie Mogford, another committee member, echoed his concerns, saying he often sees paddleboarders out very late at night without lights.
BA chief executive John Packman welcomed the “huge growth” in leisure sports on the Broads, particularly among young people, but accepted it had brought challenges.
He said: “My gut feeling is that actually what we ought to be doing is trying to encourage them to go to the locations where it is safe.”
A report on paddleboard sports is expected to come in early next year.