Harry Blathwayt named new chairman of Broads Authority

Harry Blathwayt has taken over from Bill Dickson in the senior member role and will oversee the management of the Broads.

Harry Blathwayt is a keen sailor (Image: Harry Blathwayt)

It follows Mr Dickson's tenure coming to an end after eight years. Dr John Packman remains the chief executive. 

Bill Dickson is stepping down as chairman of the Broads Authority after eight years (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Blathwayt has signalled his main focus will be securing the future of the BA by negotiating better funding with the new Labour government.

It follows a challenging period for the authority which has seen its costs rise significantly. 

It has made fulfilling the navigational, planning and national park duties an increasing challenge due to tight budgets, with users of the Broads bearing the brunt of some of these increased costs through having to pay higher toll fees to use the waterways.

A boat sailing along the River Thurne in the Norfolk Broads (Image: Newsquest)

The BA has called on the government to provide central funding to support the maintenance of the Broads waterways.

Mr Blathwayt, who is a keen sailor and is also a North Norfolk District councillor, said: "I am hugely excited to be chairman, it is a great honour.

"There are going to be significant challenges in the coming year. How the government choose to fund national parks will be a main issue and we will try to get our new MPs in the Broads area on board with us and to understand our difficulties.

"Funding levels have remained flat for the last 14 years but we have had massive inflation that time. 

A boat sailing on the River Bure near Horning (Image: Newsquest)

"We are seeing the right signals but we will have to wait and see."

Speaking about outgoing chairman Bill Dickson, Mr Blathwayt said it is a "sad loss" and that Mr Dickson became a big character in the Broads during his tenure. 

Despite the new responsibility, he hopes he can find more time to go sailing on the Broads.