I was interested to read the piece on the Broads Authority earlier this week, which accurately reflects widely held views.

Since formation, the Broads Authority has grown massively in size and today receives around half of its income from rapidly increasing navigation tolls — effectively a local tax.

READ MORE: What is going on at the Broads Authority?Given the number of 'appointed' members, toll payers hardly get a look in at the authority they support. The current chief executive even once attempted to close the statutory navigation committee.

We learn the authority was having discussions with English Nature over Hoveton Great Broad five years before advising their members — which they eventually discovered when a planning application was submitted.

Large sums of public money expended on private property is likely to be contentious but this level of advice given to members begs the question just who is running this authority — and for whom?

There has long been a suspicion the chief executive makes policy, apparently to some personal agenda. Certainly the Hoveton Great Broad experience illustrates that members are not in the forefront. Planning particularly must be transparent and publicly accountable.

A full review of the Broads Authority is required by a properly independent body. Currently it seems the authority is only accountable to other unelected quangos in the form of National Parks - a peer group with similar vested interests.

Democracy is the only way forwards. The new organisation should elect 50pc of members representing toll payers, in direct proportion to their contribution.

Jamie Campbell,

Cross Lane, Brancaster.