Dusty Wentworth

Boating on the Norfolk Broads has shaped local life for generations, yet the latest figures show the waterway is facing steady decline. Fewer private craft are being registered, hire fleets are reducing in size and maintenance costs are rising. The Broads Authority is again proposing toll increases to cover its expenditure, but that approach risks deepening the problem rather than solving it. Behind the numbers lies a wider challenge that touches not only the economy but also the health and wellbeing of the people who live here. The Broads remain one of the county’s greatest natural assets, but their value now needs to be measured in more than navigation revenue. They could become part of a much broader response to community health. Linking the environment to wellbeing is not a new idea, but it has never been fully developed here. Blue Health is the growing field of research and practice that explores how rivers, lakes and coastlines benefit both physical and mental health....

When the pandemic forced the country indoors, remote working was hailed as a breakthrough. Productivity held steady, families thrived, and air quality in major cities improved. Ministers called it modern, efficient and sustainable. Only a few years later, the message has flipped. Politicians and business leaders now insist that people return to the office. The claim is that productivity and collaboration depend on physical presence, yet the evidence does not support that. The real motive appears far more financial than social: a government addicted to tax revenue and control, not progress. The commuting economy Commuters are profitable. Every journey generates tax, from fuel duty to public transport fares and VAT on takeaway food. When millions began working from home, that entire system faltered. The government’s push to “return to normal” was not about team spirit but about restoring lost revenue streams. The truth is simple: home workers are efficient but less taxable. C...