Norfolk Broads boats sail to sea after bridge blockade ends

But now, boaters who were marooned in the Norfolk Broads have finally been able to set sail out to sea after an 83-day blockade of a key river crossing ended.

Great Yarmouth's Haven Bridge is lifting once again after a temporary agreement was reached between Peel Ports and Norfolk County Council (NCC).

A boat passes under Haven Bridge (Image: Denise Bradley)

This six-month truce put an end to a dispute which was triggered by drunks trying to direct traffic and staff suffering abuse when it was lifted and malfunctioned in February.

The incident prompted Peel Ports to refuse to open it until NCC introduced new measures to avoid a repeat of the scenes.

This led to an effective blockade of the crossing, preventing river users from passing through the low-lying bridge.

The matter was resolved after NCC conceded and agreed to "contribute towards the cost of running the bridge while both parties seek a long-term solution.”

Members of the Broads boating community have been quick to make use of their new found freedom.

Wehlau sailing on the other side of Haven Bridge (Image: Terry Everitt)

One skipper, Terry Everitt, has now been able to move his 100ft cruiser through the bridge to have it surveyed at a shipyard to ensure it is sea-worthy, before then setting sail with his wife Teena for their new life in Essex.

The pair, who live aboard Wehlau - a Prussian barge built nearly a century ago - embarked on their journey on Monday morning.

They had previously been marooned in the Broads for several months due to the blockade, as their boat was too large to exit via the alternative route of Mutford Lock in Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft.

Terry Everitt lives on board the boat with his wife Teena (Image: Newsquest)

He said: "We are so pleased it is now operating and can now enjoy our retirement.

"We have seen lots of vessels coming and going enjoying the freedom to leave the Broads.

"I am hoping it stays that way."

A flotilla of Broom boats pass through Haven Bridge on their way to the south coast after the Haven Bridge blockade ended (Image: Peter Ward)

The ending of the blockade has also been welcomed by Peter Ward of the Broom Owners Club, a group of boaters who own sea-faring vessels built at a shipyard in Brundall.

Since the reopening, he has left the Broads with a flotilla of three other craft which sailed down to the south coast.

Broom boats pass under Haven Bridge last week after the blockade ended (Image: Peter Ward)

"It is so important to see Great Yarmouth open again, it is absolutely brilliant," he said.

WILL TRUCE LAST?

While there has been excitement that the bridge is operating once again, it remains to be seen if a long-term solution can be found. 

Mr Ward added: "There is still a lot of anxiety about what this temporary agreement means and we want to know what will happen in the long term."

Kay Mason-Bilig, leader of NCC said reopening Haven Bridge was "essential for the local economy and to restore access for river traffic".

She added: "We have agreed to a short-term arrangement with Peel Ports to break the deadlock and get the bridge reopened.

"We are in discussions to find a longer-term solution which will give local businesses and river users the certainty they need.

"We are determined that the bridge will be kept functioning and remain open for those who wish to use it, as we appreciate how important this is for Great Yarmouth.”

Peter Ward of the Broom Owner's Club in Norfolk (Image: Peter Ward)

A spokesman for Peel Ports said: "We are happy that NCC have listened to the issues and we continue in dialogue with them on the topic of health and safety."

TIMELINE OF THE BRIDGE BLOCKADE

• February 2021 - Haven Bridge closes for multi-million-pound repairs. It was set to take 13 weeks but delays led it to take nearly three years before it was in operation again.

• November 2023 - Haven Bridge reopens after the repair work was completed.

• February 2024 - Haven Bridge malfunctions during a lift, leading to rowdy scenes with members of the public abusing Peel Ports staff and a drunk directing traffic.

• April 2024 - Peel Ports announces it will not lift Haven Bridge due to health and safety concerns. This causes anger among boaters who can no longer access the North Sea via this route.

• May 15, 2024 - Boat firms complain the closure of Haven Bridge has cost them millions of pounds in lost business and extra expenses caused by having to use alternative routes to test boats at sea.

• June 11, 2024 - A skipper of a 100ft cruiser says he has been marooned in the Norfolk Broads due to the bridge blockade, as this is the only route he can leave through, preventing him from starting his new life in Essex.

• June 13, 2024 - Peel Ports admit that the reason for the dispute between Norfolk County Council was caused by the incident in February when rowdy public hurled abuse at staff.

•  June 29 - The saga turns into farce after Peel Ports announces Haven Bridge will be in operation once a week for weekly lifts to test the crossing. But vessels still cannot pass through.

• July 2, 2024 - Days later, after an intervention from Norfolk County Council, Haven Bridge is lifting once again for river traffic, bringing an end to the dispute.