Modern Drainage Problems 197 



ADMINISTRATION 



The outstanding difficulty of the past has been the lack of a single 

 controlling authority and the absence of co-operation amongst existing 

 authorities. The problem of finance has always been a very great stumbhng- 

 block to concerted action. In 1850, there were three principal bodies 

 controlling the southern Fenland: (i) The Bedford Level Corporation 

 controlling the North Level; the Hundred Foot and Old Bedford Rivers; 

 and the Middle Level, (ii) The South Level Commissioners controlling 

 the South Level as then defined, (iii) The Eau Brink Commissioners 

 controlling the remaining portions of the Tidal River (below Denver), 

 but with rights vested in the several ad hoc authorities. 



In 1858, the North Level separated and now falls principally within the 

 purview of the Nene Catchment Board. In 1862, the Middle Level 

 separated from the Bedford Level Corporation. Bills were introduced 

 into Parliament in 1877, 1878, 1879, and 1881, concerned with the idea 

 of setting up Conservancy Boards, but difficulties of rating were among 

 the main reasons that prevented their establishment. 



The functions of the Eau Brink Commissioners were, in general, 

 divided between the Ouse Banks Commissioners, the Lower Ouse Drainage 

 Board, the Ouse Outfall Board, the Denver Sluice Cominissioners, 

 and the South Level Commissioners. In addition, there existed the Norfolk 

 Estuary Company, which built and controlled the Marsh Cut and training 

 walls; and also there was the King's Lynn Conservancy Board, mainly 

 concerned with the port of King's Lynn and its navigation. In 1920, the 

 functions of the Bedford Level, South Level, Denver Sluice Commissioners, 

 Ouse Outfall Board, Lower Ouse Drainage Board, and the Ouse Banks 

 Commissioners, were transferred to one Authority termed the Ouse 

 Drainage Board, which had powers of direct rating over the area controlled. 



Under the Land Drainage Act of 1930, the River Great Ouse Catchment 

 Board was instituted to take over the functions of the Ouse Drainage 

 Board. It also had control over the remaining portions of the River Ouse 

 Catchment Area (excluding the Norfolk Estuary Company and the King's 

 Lynn Conservancy Board), but without the powers of direct rating. The 

 area covered by the Board is over two mUhon acres, having a rateable 

 value of over ^3,350,000, and running into twelve administrative counties. 

 Its income is derived partly from precepts laid on the Internal Boards as 

 far as may be considered fair, and partly from precepts laid on the County 

 Councils, with a statutory limit of 2^^. in the ^. It has been found necessary 

 to levy tills fuU rate, as the total income from the two sources is not 

 sufficient to meet the onerous duties which fall on the Board. 



