The Inland Waterways Association

Category: Access for all

Find out about how the IWA is campaigning to make the UK’s waterways accessible for all.

  • Council’s lack of vision for Exeter’s new A379 canal bridges

    Council’s lack of vision for Exeter’s new A379 canal bridges

    In a joint response to the current public consultation regarding the A379 Bridges Replacement Scheme, IWA and FESCHH say they also believe that the consultation is unrepresentative.

    The consultation, entitled A379 Bridge Road, Exeter: Bridge Replacement Scheme, runs from 15th June – 27th July 2026. Despite Devon County Council proposing five options for the new bridges at stakeholders’ meetings in October 2025, the consultation presents only one for the public to comment on, which proposes replacing the bridges at a similarly restrictive height as the current bridges.

    The Exeter Ship Canal provides a five-mile navigable route between Exeter Canal Basin, in the heart of the city, and the English Channel (via Turf Lock and the Exe Estuary). The two, adjacent bridges carry the A379, a busy dual carriageway, across the canal at its mid-point. Currently, they have exceptionally low air drafts (the clearance between water level and underside of a bridge) which present a barrier to boaters, paddleboarders, cyclists and pedestrians.

    IWA representative Ray Alexander said: “Devon County Council appears to be back-tracking on its own Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) for the Scheme, which has previously been approved by the Department for Transport. For example, the SOBC identified the potential for cyclists and pedestrians to pass underneath the new bridges if they were built higher, but this significant safety benefit would be lost if they now press ahead without doing so.”

    IWA and FESCHH point to numerous opportunities and benefits that raising the height of the bridges could bring to the area’s community, economy and environment. These include:

    • Increasing active travel opportunities and safety.
    • Enabling sustainable freight use of the canal.
    • Increasing business and employment opportunities.
    • Reducing pollution and improving the environment.

    Ray Alexander added: “At a time when towns and cities throughout the country are introducing congestion management measures and seeking low-carbon transport alternatives, it would be short-sighted to rebuild the A379 bridges at a height that discourages future, environmentally friendly freight opportunities on the canal.”

    Ellen Stuart of FESCHH points to the opportunities for boosting business and employment. She said: “Increased use of the Exeter Ship Canal would encourage more visitors to the canal basin, riverside quay and city, boosting existing businesses and creating the potential for new ones.”

    Both IWA and FESCHH believe that the consultation is unrepresentative. They say that while the Scheme is entitled a Bridge Replacement Scheme, the consultation contains little information about the five bridge replacement options. Instead, it discounts all options except the one replacing the bridges with an unchanged maximum height and focuses on walking, cycling and public transport measures along the A379 dual carriageway.

    Ray Alexander said: “Our engagement with key interested parties and elected representatives has revealed substantial support for the option of raising the height of the canal bridges, including from the Exeter Harbour Board and Exeter MP Steve Race. It is our view that a consultation cannot be considered representative if it effectively dismisses an option that has demonstrated significant public support without presenting the full case both for and against it.”

    Ellen Stuart concluded: “The Scheme proposes spending up to £50 million of public money (85% from the Department for Transport) on replacing the canal bridges and associated works. If this investment is to serve Exeter and Devon for the next 60+ years, it should future-proof Exeter Ship Canal for leisure, freight and passenger use, rather than merely reproducing the existing constraints. We should be building for the future, not the past.”

    Full Response to Devon County Council Can be found here.

  • Parliamentary Group on Waterways Discusses Access, Water Quality and Active Travel

    Parliamentary Group on Waterways Discusses Access, Water Quality and Active Travel

    Under the secretariat of the Inland Waterways Association (IWA), the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Waterways convened last week to hear evidence from Paddle UK and the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust on the growing importance of waterways for recreation, active travel, public health, and environmental stewardship. This was alongside concerns about water quality, access restrictions and the need for investment in infrastructure.

    Ben Seal, Head of Access and Environment at Paddle UK, outlined the recent growth in paddle sport participation: an estimated 7.5 million people paddle annually across the UK, this means water sports participation now exceeds that of popular sports such as football or rugby.

    Parliamentarians heard how waterways contribute significantly to both public wellbeing and the economy. Paddle UK referenced the Sport and Recreation Alliance’s “Reconomics 3.0” report, which found that water sports support around one million jobs, contribute billions to the economy as well as preventative health savings to the NHS.

    However, concerns were raised about threats facing waterways and those who use them with water quality a major issue. Representatives warned that pollution and the corresponding negative publicity are discouraging participation.

    The APPG also heard evidence about the positive environmental contribution volunteers and community groups make. Paddle UK gave the example of the removal of 11 tonnes of invasive floating pennywort by paddlers. This helped save navigation authorities significant costs, as well as citizen science schemes supporting water quality monitoring and public accountability.

    Paul Twocock, Executive Director of Strategy and Engagement at the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, outlined the charity’s work to improve walking, wheeling, and cycling access across the UK. Around 500 miles of these routes run alongside canals, with a further 600 miles along rivers.

    He also described partnership projects delivered with CRT (Canal & River Trust), Scottish Canals, and local authorities, including towpath improvements along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and lighting upgrades on Edinburgh’s Union Canal. He also discussed challenges associated with balancing shared towpath use in busy urban areas such as London’s Regent’s Canal.

    Paul Twocock said:

    “There’s nothing better than being alongside a canal or river for improving wellbeing, health and connecting with other people. We could open up those benefits to many more people across the UK, but as ever it’ll take some focused investment to make it happen and improvements in the way we deal with biodiversity net gain targets – that’s what we were urging parliamentarians to take action on this week.”

    Accessibility was also a major theme throughout the session. Polly Maton from Disability Rights UK emphasised why it is important that waterways and water sports are accessible to disabled people, noting that access to the water’s edge can be just as important as access onto the water itself.

    There was discussion of future policy opportunities, including the proposed Clean Water Bill, the Government’s forthcoming Access to Nature Green Paper, and proposals for new river walks announced in Labour’s manifesto.

    The roundtable concluded with parliamentarians acknowledging both the social and environmental value of waterways, and the importance of improving access, water quality, and infrastructure to support growing participation across a wide range of activities.

    Concluding, Lord German, also Honorary President of the Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canals Trust, said:

    “Our waterways are unique and precious, delivering social, environmental and economic benefits, including regeneration, tourism, biodiversity and public wellbeing – as seen from this APPG meeting and the evidence given. I look forward to helping further this agenda”.

    Photo L-R: (not all members were present at the end of the meeting) Joanna Richardson (British Marine), Baroness Jenny Jones, Charlie Norman (IWA), Ben Seal (Paddle UK), Paul Twocock (Walk Wheel Cycle Trust), Polly Maton (Disability Rights UK), Alice Gibb (Defra)

  • IWA Navigation Committee News

    IWA Navigation Committee News

    In order to make IWA’s navigation-related campaigning work more visible, a Navigation section will be included in future editions of the Bulletin email alongside the Restoration and Environment sections.

    1. Water resources

    The Sustainability & Environment Group now leads in the area of water resources for IWA, but there are many aspects relevant to navigation.

    • Water Abstraction

    Navigation Committee has been aware for some time of the view expressed by CRT Chief Executive Campbell Robb that the forthcoming renewal of CRT’s abstraction licences issued by the Environment Agency (EA) represents the single biggest threat to the canal network. The reason for this is partly the effort and cost required to renew them, but primarily the potential risk to water supplies from onerous conditions being imposed such as reduced abstraction or the requirement for fish screening. The latter has emerged as a live issue, firstly on the Monmouthshire, Brecon & Abergavenny Canals where feeds from rivers and streams have been taken out of use in preference to the installation and maintenance of very fine screens. More recently, restricted opening hours have been imposed at Diglis Locks at the junction of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal with the River Severn, because of restrictions on the use of back-pumping without fish screening being implemented. CRT’s Head of Boating and Customer Service described this in Navigation Committee’s recent meeting as a very concerning situation which will be replicated elsewhere across the network and will impose millions of pounds of extra cost on CRT – costs which were of course not foreseen when CRT was established as a charity.

    It has become apparent through these events and through consultation documents that EA appears to be protecting river environments over other aquatic environments such as canals in water abstraction, despite canals being long-standing legitimate and necessary abstractors of water which provide environmental benefits in their own right. This point was raised in Navigation Committee’s recent liaison meeting with Defra’s inland waterways team, who were sympathetic to the view and said they had been in discussion with CRT for several years. It appears that there may be an important role for IWA in pressing CRT’s case that canal water supplies need to be protected. The point was explicitly included in IWA’s response to the latest EA consultation, the Consultation on Significant Water Management Issues, which was submitted on 18th May.

    • Water Retention

    A draft document setting out IWA’s proposals for improving the security of water supply for navigation on CRT’s canal system had been discussed at the last Navigation Committee meeting and the content agreed. The format was subsequently developed and the document sent to the CRT National Boating Manager with a formal response for feedback from the National Hydrology Manager and the Operations Performance Director.

    • Water Transfer

    Navigation Committee noted that IWA’s response to the Grand Union Canal Transfer Phase Two Public Consultation had been led by Graham Heald and submitted on 30th March and a news item had been published. IWA called for a more comprehensive and transparent demonstration of the engineering of the canal section of the scheme to show how the water flows would be managed and controlled, both to ensure navigation within the transfer length and to maintain or preferably enhance water supplies to the wider canal network to London, Oxford, Northampton, Warwick, Leicester and Shardlow. IWA Northampton Branch also submitted a response focusing particularly on local points.

    • CRT work on Water Resources

    The CRT Council Boater Representatives group had a special meeting on water resources on 20th April, attended by Sue O’Hare as IWA nominee on Council and Graham Heald by invitation.

    A report was provided on CRT’s incident review of the 2025 drought. It had been found that knowledge transfer and collaboration across the organisation had worked well, together with strong leadership roles. Areas for improvement included asset reliability, data and water level and flow measuring (SCADA) limitations, and communications (where it had proved challenging to achieve the right balance between certainty and comprehensiveness). A positive outcome had been the addition of new roles in the National Hydrology team. A webpage of drought FAQs has been produced.

    In terms of the outlook for 2026, the wet winter had helped to replenish reservoirs but it had been followed by a dry spring. The position of reservoir work had improved over last year with some works being finished, meaning that Toddbrook Reservoir could be refilled and brought back into use and capacity restrictions on some other reservoirs lifted.

    A revised Water Resources Strategy was already overdue and still in preparation, with CRT seeking clarity from EA over the Water Resources National Framework which imposes new and unique expectations on CRT.

    • Condition of the waterways

    The two major breaches (the Llangollen Canal at Whitchurch and the Bridgewater Canal at Little Bollington) continue to cause disruption for both businesses and individual boaters. CRT appears to be making rapid progress at Whitchurch, but despite repeated assurances that the Bridgewater Canal Company still intends to reopen its canal by the end of 2026 there is still no visible work being carried out yet. More positive news was the reopening of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal ahead of schedule after the repair of the collapsed bywash at Penkridge.

    Other issues discussed around the network included the lack of announcements about repairs to the Anderton Boat Lift, the water level problems at New Islington Marina in Manchester, the ongoing closure of the Tame Valley Canal at Spouthouse Embankment, the problems at Keadby Lock and the Vazon sliding rail bridge on the Stainforth & Keadby Canal, the deteriorating condition of locks on the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal, the closure of the Avon Navigation for the rebuilding of Nafford Lock, the reopening of Baits Bite Lock on the River Cam and Salter’s Lode Lock on the Middle Level Navigations following work on the guillotine gates.

    It is very noticeable that CRT is now talking of difficult conversations about less well-used waterways, such as the Dee Branch which it has said is effectively permanently closed. Developments elsewhere are equally concerning. The Great Ouse Boating Association views the decline in the condition of EA assets on the Great Ouse as having reached a critical point and will be highlighting this to politicians in its joint campaign cruise with Fund Britain’s Waterways in July. The Basingstoke Canal has recently lost its manager and the position will not be filled.

    • Closure of CRT Customer Service Facilities (CSFs)

    Following a consultation with boaters in 2022 on the minimum standard for CSFs, CRT announced that showers, toilets and laundry facilities would be closed across the network from November 2025 and invited expressions of interest from other organisations in running them. Navigation Committee was concerned at the time that the closures appeared rushed and it was unclear that the published process had been followed, and requested that CRT answer a set of questions. Since then, there has been widespread dissatisfaction and discussion on social media, and Navigation Committee received a specific enquiry highlighting the impact in areas where many boaters have small cruisers in which it is impossible to install usable facilities. A response from CRT was still awaited but a specific commitment was made in the recent Navigation Committee meeting with the National Boating Team.

    OTHER POINTS

    • CRT’s Independent Commission on the Future of Boat Licensing

    As previously reported, a small subgroup of Navigation Committee is taking thoughts forward so that IWA is ready to respond to further consultations at the appropriate time. CRT has recently appointed a Boating Transformation Programme Manager, Alice Hamilton. Alice will lead the work on communications and engagement. The plan is for a pre-consultation with national boating organisations followed by a 3-month consultation over summer, during which CRT is hoping for face-to-face contact with boaters as well as online.

    • Residential boating/mooring

    The All Party Parliamentary Group for the Waterways meeting on 14th April explored residential boating, with presentations by the Residential Boat Owners Association and the National Bargee Travellers Association. The complexity of the subject has since been highlighted in mainstream media after it became known that the Leader of the Green Party, Zack Polanski, may not have paid Council Tax that was due.

    • Fishing matches and visitor moorings

    A CRT stoppage notice recently stated that a fishing match was to be held right across the visitor moorings on the Trent & Mersey Canal in Rugeley, which are intensively used by boaters to visit the town centre shops. The issue was resolved following contact by Helen Whitehouse with the CRT West Midlands Regional Director, but the general principle was raised by Navigation Committee in its meeting with the National Boating Team. CRT confirmed that the principle agreed by British Waterways of not allowing fishing matches to be held over designated visitor moorings still stands, and that the stoppage notice in question had used the wrong template and given an unintended message.

    • Boat Safety Scheme consultation on Smoke Alarms

    IWA’s response to the BSS’s consultation was submitted on 22nd April, in support of introducing a new mandatory safety standard for the correct number of suitable working smoke alarm(s) in good condition.

    • Skippers Guide to Trent Falls

    The Skippers Guide to the Passage Planning and Transit of Trent Falls produced by Brian Sharples and endorsed by Navigation Committee has been published here.

    • Decarbonisation of the Inland Waterways

    Navigation Committee noted the adoption of the Sustainable Boating Group Policy for the Decarbonisation of the UK Inland Waterways Leisure Fleet  by trustees as an IWA policy. It has been submitted to the Department for Transport as part of their Call for Evidence on the Decarbonisation of Smaller Vessels.

    • Environment Agency National Waterways Forum and National Waterways Advisory Group meeting 25th March (attended by Sue O’Hare as IWA nominee)

    The increased focus, importance and funding being given to navigation by EA is good to see, though there is still much to be done. EA’s CEO Philip Duffy has directly committed to improving the navigation service, which has resulted in new posts and transformation programmes as well as increased funding.

    • Resource funding £21m for 2026/27 (up from £16m last year and £13m the year before)
    • Capital funding £33m for 2026/27 (up from £25m in 2025/26)
    • This is the first year of a 3-year settlement, so in principle the same amount of Grant In Aid should be received for each of the next three years, albeit subject to change because of external pressures.

    Asset management is the first of the transformation programmes (Project Aurora) including harmonisation of the treatment of assets across EA and development of condition assessments harnessing data and digitisation. EA will be moving to Reliability Centred Maintenance, i.e. inspecting each asset as dictated by its reliability rather than at fixed intervals.

    Long-standing work on removing sunken and abandoned boats and on compliance is now coming to fruition. A mooring strategy and a commercial strategy are in development.

    A 20-year vision statement has been formally approved: “thriving, valued navigable waterways”. Next will be a 5-year strategy for the management of navigable waterways and associated assets, with four “ambitions”:

    • Open, reliable waterways
    • More financially sustainable
    • Modern, streamlined service
    • Adapt and innovate for the future

    The next step is the first dedicated director, Simon Hawkins, who will lead the navigation teams, and who started on 1st April (previously, navigation was split across directorates). However this positive news was subsequently tempered by the discovery that the Deputy Director Asset Operations Service, Lindsey Sayner, who has been chairing NWF meetings, has now been seconded to another organisation and the role has been taken over by Mark Ross, who is currently unknown to IWA.

    • Navigation Committee six-monthly meeting with Defra inland waterways team – 1st May

    As previously noted, the IWA Waterways Directory and the GIS files behind the map had been provided to a new member of the Defra team who is working to understand which waterways are managed by a navigation authority and which are unregulated. The data is being used for exploring access policy and ways of increasing access to unregulated waterways.

    The Defra team is still in discussion with CRT about the delivery mechanism for future grant funding and hopes to sign the grant agreement for 2027-2037 before the end of 2026. The additional £6.5m funding which was announced in February was said to have become available internally and was decided to be about the right amount to cover the additional costs because of climate change, hence it was provided as capital investment for dealing with the additional high cost of asset failures.

    • Navigation Committee liaison meeting with the CRT National Boating team – 13th May

    No further details have yet become available of CRT’s management restructuring beyond the announcements about the CRT top team by Campbell Robb in a video message to volunteers on 23rd April.

    Following a request by Navigation Committee, CRT is working on reinstating the total duration of unplanned stoppages as a KPI as well as the number.

    The Boater App is in development phase with MySociety and FixMyStreet, and is to be launched this year.

    CRT has temporarily taken over control and management of the wharf, facilities and moorings at Sherborne Wharf in Birmingham to ensure that boaters can continue to use them after the bankruptcy of Sherborne Wharf Ltd.

    Navigation Committee raised a complaint made about the substantial increase fees for events held on its property, but CRT reiterated that the policy is to cover costs and not to make a profit. Subsidy was no longer affordable.

    Forthcoming meetings

    • CRT National Boating Organisations meeting – Hatton, 10th June (Roger Stocker to represent IWA)
    • EA National Waterways Forum & National Waterways Advisory Group extraordinary meeting on national navigation strategy – 10th June (Sue O’Hare to represent IWA)
    • Navigation Committee online meeting – 8th July

    Sue O’Hare
    Chair of Navigation Committee
    25th May 2026

    [The photo shows the boaters facilities at Marsworth – by Alison Smedley]

    The report from the March 2026 Navigation Committee meeting is available here.

    The report from the January 2026 Navigation Committee meeting is available here.

    Reports from pre-2026 Navigation Committee meetings are available here.

  • IWA Navigation Committee News

    IWA Navigation Committee News

    In all 25 narrowboats including two former working pairs made the journey along the Walsall Canal to the basin, where they were welcomed by the Mayor of Walsall. The campaign cruise attracted a good deal of interest and was covered by ITV Central News and the Express & Star local paper. A press release was subsequently issued and is available here.

    Hazel Owen (National Chair of the Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs and Chair of FBW) gave an update on the Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign to Navigation Committee. Following this first FBW campaign cruise of 2026, other cruises were planned in London and on the Great Ouse alongside the main focus on north west waterways.

    Major discussion points included:

    1. Political lobbying

    The arrangements for the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Waterways under the new Chair Bill Esterson MP were clarified and it was explained that representatives of organisations relevant to the matter in hand would be invited. It was agreed that all political parties should be approached for campaigning and lobbying purposes. The need for IWA to maintain a visible leadership role in the waterways sector through its campaigning was stressed.

    • Condition of the waterways

    Repairs of the two major breaches (the Llangollen Canal at Whitchurch and the Bridgewater Canal at Little Bollington) are expected to take most of 2026, although the Canal & River Trust (CRT) is making much faster and much more visible progress on the former than Peel L&P is on the latter. Both are having a substantial effect on hire boat companies, since the Llangollen Canal and the Cheshire Ring are very popular cruising routes. This is exacerbated by the collapsed bywash at Penkridge on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal which severs the Four Counties Ring as well, though is scheduled to be reopened on 1st May.

    The Anderton Boat Lift between the River Weaver and the Trent & Mersey Canal is also scheduled to be closed all year. Fortunately CRT has managed to reopen Marsh Lock for booked passages, so the Weaver is no longer completely cut off from the rest of the network.

    In this light it is particularly pleasing to see major change starting in both CRT and the Environment Agency (EA) with the arrival of new senior management.

    The CRT Chair David Orr and CEO Campbell Robb have said that this needs to be a reset point, for both the way things are done and the way they are communicated. The Better Boating Plan has been expanded into a three-year Transforming the Boater Experience Programme, with a dedicated Programme Manager and a total budget allocation of £10m. CRT secured an additional one-off payment of £6.5m from Defra, reportedly as a result of starting to engage with government in a different way. The financial challenges are substantial though, and considerable work remains to be done to create a long-term sustainable plan with enough room for the substantial investment in the network that is needed.

    The EA CEO Philip Duffy has directly committed to improving the navigation service. The recent focus on navigation had already led to new roles including Deputy Directors for both Navigation Strategy and Navigation Operations. The National Waterways Forum meeting on 25th March heard that the first-ever dedicated director for navigation is shortly to be appointed, to bring together the navigation teams from different directorates. Several transformation programmes are under way, starting with asset management. A three-year settlement with increased resource and capital funding will start in 2026/27. A long period of work on compliance and enforcement is now coming to fruition, with well-publicised success in removing sunken and abandoned boats. Regular liaison meetings with CRT are being held at all levels, from quarterly meetings of Executive Directors to operational level. A statement from the River Thames Society on social media reported “a buoyant spirit in the [EA navigation] team… lots being done and many problems still to be tackled, but a positive mood running through the system”.

    • CRT’s Independent Commission on the Future of Boat Licensing

    As previously reported, a small subgroup of Navigation Committee is taking thoughts forward so that IWA is ready to respond to further consultations at the appropriate time. CRT is expecting to publish both its response to each of the 36 Commission recommendations and a timetable for engagement and consultation in May or June.

    • Residential boating and mooring

    The next meeting of the APPG is scheduled to be on Residential Boating, exploring issues affecting residential boating and moorings provision. Organisations with an interest in this area will be invited.

    • Water resources

    Water resources management continues to be a very significant topic, and although the Sustainability & Environment Group now leads in this area there are many aspects relevant to navigation.

    • IWA’s response to the Environment Agency consultation on Reserving Water Abstraction Rights was submitted in January and shared with CRT and the Wilts & Berks and Cotswolds Canals Trusts. It was also shared with Defra, with a cover note pointing out that IWA emphasises the need to protect long-established waterways infrastructure in its response, and is well aware of CRT’s concerns over the resource and cost implications of applying for its abstraction licences to be renewed, in addition to the possibility of onerous restrictions being imposed or even licences not being renewed. A summary article and link to the full response are available here.
    • IWA’s response to the consultation on proposed new Broad Oak Water reservoir in Kent was submitted in March, making the argument for protecting navigation on the Stour which has been hindered by eutrophication and siltation. A summary article and link to the full response are available here.
    • Navigation Committee agreed to pass the Environment Agency consultation on Significant Water Management Issues in River Basin Management Planning to the Sustainability & Environment Group, since the consultation is almost entirely related to environment, chemical and pollution issues.
    • Phil Sharpe had developed a draft document setting out IWA proposals for improving the security of water supply for navigation on CRT’s canal system. The document was agreed by Navigation Committee to be excellent and to be suitable for sending to CRT at CEO level in order to trigger discussions and action.
    • Graham Heald (IWA Water Lead) and Phil Sharpe have been progressing the IWA response to the Grand Union Canal Transfer Project Phase Two Public Consultation. Phil reported on the meeting with CRT and Affinity Water representatives the previous day. It had become apparent that much of the necessary technical work had already been done but was not documented in the consultation documents. This will be the main thrust of IWA’s response.

    OTHER POINTS

    • Navigation Committee agreed to recommend the reappointment of Sue O’Hare as a Member on the expiry of her term of office to Trustees.
    • Navigation Committee noted the resignation of Jessal Murarji as Honorary Consultant Engineer and Corresponding Member of Navigation Committee. Jessal had been representing the Honorary Consultant Engineers on Navigation Committee since July 2022. The Committee recorded its thanks to him, and expressed the hope that another way can be found to maintain a link with the Honorary Consultant Engineers.
    • Navigation Committee noted the submission of IWA’s response to the National Planning Policy Framework by the Planning Advisory Panel. The response highlighted that inland waterways are not being given the recognition as essential national infrastructure that they merit. A summary article and link to the full response are available here.
    • Navigation Committee will lead on IWA’s response to the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) public consultation on the introduction of a new mandatory Boat Safety Standard with related BSS Requirements for suitable smoke alarms in good condition and in suitable locations on all classes of boat with accommodation spaces.
    • Navigation Committee agreed that IWA’s Policy on Unauthorised Renting of Boats should be renamed and updated into the new format for policies.
    • In view of the unreliability of the Vazon sliding railway bridge over the Stainforth & Keadby Canal in warmer weather, and now the likely closure of Keadby Lock for some time, it is becoming increasingly necessary for inland waterways boats to make the tidal passage around Trent Falls in order to transit between the northern and Midland waterways via the Trent. Brian Sharples had prepared a Skippers Guide to Trent Falls which Navigation Committee was delighted to endorse for publication on the IWA website.
    • Following a significant period without a manager for IWA’s Certificate of Boat Management scheme, Trustees have appointed Andrew Phasey as manager. Andrew will continue with his previous role of Chief Trainer in parallel, but with a wish to relinquish the Chief Trainer role before the end of 2026. The scheme reports to Navigation Committee at present, but since the customer base is mainly restoration-related groups, Trustees may decide to change this line of reporting in due course.
    • The link to the IWA Waterways Directory and the GIS files behind the map were provided to Defra, in response to a request from a new member of the Defra inland waterways team for help to improve the team’s data and knowledge on inland waterways.
    • Updates were received from IWA West Country Branch on its current projects: the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier, the regeneration of Bridgwater Docks, and the replacement of the bridges carrying the A379 over the Exeter Ship Canal. Much excellent campaigning work continues to be done.
    • A new standing agenda item has been introduced for a report from Navigation Committee’s representative on the Sustainability & Environment Group, to ensure close working between the two groups.

    Forthcoming meetings

    • Navigation Committee six-monthly meeting with Defra inland waterways team – 14th April
    • CRT Council Boater Representatives special meeting on water resources – 20th April (Sue O’Hare to represent IWA)
    • Navigation Committee regular liaison meeting with the Canal & River Trust National Boating team – 13th May
    • Navigation Committee online meeting – 13th May

    Sue O’Hare
    Chair of Navigation Committee
    31st March 2026

    [The photo shows moored boats in Walsall Basin on 21st March – by Peter Fisher]

    The previous report from Navigation Committee is available here.

    Earlier reports from Navigation Committee are available here.

  • IWA Campaigns to Protect the River Stour in Kent

    IWA Campaigns to Protect the River Stour in Kent

    IWA has responded to South East Water’s proposals for the Broad Oak Water scheme in Kent. The response emphasises the importance of protecting navigation rights on the tidal River Stour, noting that this stretch has been affected by two significant problems, eutrophication (over enrichment with nutrients leading to excessive plant growth and damage to wildlife) and siltation. IWA argues that studies for the scheme must demonstrate that it will not worsen these issues and should ideally contribute to improvements.

    The document highlights how over-abstraction led to saline intrusion as far as Stodmarsh Nature reserve, which was then mitigated by pumping sewage discharge into the river, causing eutrophication. The nutrient‑rich sewage effluent caused abnormal weed growth that raised the riverbed, hindering navigation. IWA stresses that mitigation for these issues, particularly improved sewage treatment, should be integral to the scheme.

    On siltation, IWA warns that the unmanaged tidal Stour is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate and encourages South East Water to support future river management arrangements. It also calls for careful design of inlet and outlet structures to avoid harmful transverse flows, referencing established engineering guidance.

    The response further requests clarity on emergency discharge procedures and their implications for river users. Finally, IWA expresses support for the proposed recreational facilities at the reservoir. The full response is available here.

    [Photo: The Kentish Stour at Grove Ferry – by Neil Edwards]

  • IWA Navigation Committee News

    IWA Navigation Committee News

    1. Canal & River Trust’s Independent Commission on the Future of Boat Licensing

    As reported in November, a small subgroup of Navigation Committee was formed to take thoughts forward so that IWA is ready to respond to the Commission report and any further consultations at the appropriate time.

    Although the review was about more than residential boating, it is the residential boating and continuous cruising aspects which are attracting most attention. On 31st January, the Residential Boat Owners Association will be hosting a hybrid open meeting to “Review the Review of CRT Licensing”, which representatives from Navigation Committee will be attending.

    2. Residential boating and mooring

    A group comprising representatives of IWA, The National Association of Boat Owners, National Bargees Travellers Association and the Residential Boat Owners Association has met twice to try to agree a common approach to residential boating.

    3. Water Resources

    IWA’s national Water Lead Graham Heald joined the meeting and guided the discussions on the many aspects of water resources management which are currently in focus.

    • Grand Union Canal Transfer Project

    The Phase Two Public Consultation will run from 11th February to 2nd April 2026. Graham Heald is leading for IWA and is organising a meeting with the promoters during the consultation period. There will be an opportunity for Q&A on the consultation at the next online meeting of the Canal User Working Group on 19th February.

    • Environment Agency consultation on reserving water abstraction rights

    Submissions to this consultation are due by 16th February and Graham Heald is leading IWA’s response. The current view is that the approach is concerning, because it does not appear to recognise canals as legitimate and necessary abstractors of water which provide environmental benefits in their own right. IWA will liaise with CRT over its response and will share the final version with the Defra inland waterways team.

    • Environment Agency consultation on Significant Water Management Issues in River Basin Management Planning

    This consultation is almost entirely related to environment, chemical and pollution issues, although there are areas where IWA could usefully comment. The deadline is not until 20th May.

    • IWA guidelines on water transfer and water supply and retention are in development.

    OTHER POINTS

    • Navigation Committee welcomed Brian Sharples as IWA’s North East Region representative.
    • Jonathan Mosse will represent IWA on a Boat Safety Scheme committee reviewing the future frequency of BSS examinations.
    • Paul Thomas will represent Navigation Committee on IWA’s Sustainability & Environment Group.
    • The updated IWA Towpaths Policy is now available here.
    • As part of the Risk Index campaign, relevant navigation authorities were formally asked for their plans about their indefinite stoppages. So far, only the Environment Agency has responded.
    • Since the previous Navigation Committee meeting, CRT has suffered two major issues, the breach of the embankment at Whitchurch on the Llangollen Canal and the collapsed bywash culvert at Penkridge on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. CRT has been praised for its rapid response at Whitchurch, especially compared with the ongoing Bridgewater Canal breach where not only has little visible progress been made but there are now reports on social media of deterioration. CRT launched an appeal to help fund the repairs and has already raised £166,000.
    • Keadby Lock has just had to be closed for a currently unknown period. The lock (and the nearby Vazon sliding railway bridge) are key to the North/South route using the Trent and avoiding Trent Falls.
    • The Bridgewater Canal Company has appointed a principal consultant to lead on the design and project management of the reinstatement after the breach in January 2025. Subject to the outcomes of ecological surveys and engineering design, construction work is expected to begin in summer 2026 with completion by the end of 2026.
    • IWA Kent & East Sussex Branch provided a report on abandoned boats on the River Adur, demonstrating the extent of the problem. It was noted that both CRT and the Environment Agency have been making efforts to remove more abandoned boats and to publicise their activities.
    • IWA’s concerns over the closure of ‘non-essential’ Customer Service Facilities have been formally communicated to CRT and a response requested.
    • CRT held an introductory meeting for national boating organisations with the new Chief Executive Campbell Robb on 4th December. There were three main themes (communication, long-term funding and boater experience). Campbell Robb set out his desire to move away from reacting to emergencies to a new approach of investing to save and innovating where appropriate. He stated that the biggest immediate threat to CRT waterways is the need to reapply for 157 water abstraction licences with potentially onerous licence conditions. The overall tenor of the meeting was encouragingly positive and collaborative.
    • The Environment Agency’s new focus on navigation has been reflected in recent communications. A blog described EA, CRT and the Broads Authority sharing their learning from managing navigation in this year’s drought, and Campbell Robb later confirmed that CRT and EA are committed to working together on navigation from the Chairs down. The report “Drought prospects for spring 2026” included a chapter dedicated to navigation, spelling out in quite some detail the likely impact on different waterways in three scenarios. While the details of the forecasts could be argued with, it is notable that the press release accompanying the report explicitly mentions the impact on navigation and is signed by the Water Minister Emma Hardy.
    • Scottish Canals has done well in the Scottish budget. It is encouraging to see the statements that Scotland’s transport network “includes rail, bus, trunk roads, ferries, regional aviation and canals” and “we are investing in Scottish Canals to ensure they remain a valuable resource for biodiversity, active living and tourism”.
    • The Broads Authority has appointed a new Chief Executive, Sarah Cowley, who will start in August and take over from John Packham.
    • Baits Bite Lock on the River Cam was reopened after temporary stabilisation work on schedule on 19th December, but the need for funding for permanent works on both Baits Bite and Jesus Green locks remains.
    • Uncertainty over the impact of high-speed rail projects on some waterways continues and has increased after the announcement of the Government’s long-term plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail.
    • There have been some changes at the Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW) campaign. IWA has reduced its staff involvement in order to focus efforts on IWA’s own campaigns, and Mike Wills stepped down as Chair of FBW but continues as IWA representative on the steering group. Hazel Owen of the Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs has taken over as Chair and several new volunteers have been recruited, including a representative of Leicester Civic Society to add a non-boating voice on the steering group. The first event of 2026 will be the jointly-branded FBW/Birmingham Canal Navigations Society Icicle Cruise on 21st March on the Walsall Canal to celebrate its reopening after the chemical spill and sample the new CRT arrangements in Walsall Basin. A Canalway Cavalcade dispersal cruise will be in company with a flotilla of historic narrowboats, to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Harland & Wolff fleet built in 1936 at Woolwich. The Great Ouse Boating Association is hoping to organise a campaign cruise on the Great Ouse to coincide with the Bedford River Festival. The plans for the main campaign cruise to the North West are still awaiting a response from Peel Ports about use of the Manchester Ship Canal.
    • An article from the Sunday Times of 18th January expressed concerns about the impact of the removal of the Landfill Tax exemption for dredging. These were discussed at the Navigation Committee regular liaison meeting with CRT on 26th January, where it was explained that the article was incorrect and it is the specific exemption for the use of stabilisers for treating contaminated wet dredgings which will be removed from April 2027. CRT is still working through the implications, but the change will increase the cost of dredging though only in cases of treated contaminated waste.

    Forthcoming meetings

    • RBOA hybrid open meeting to “Review the Review of CRT Licensing” – 31st January (Ivor Caplan and Roger Stocker to represent IWA)
    • Grand Union Canal Transfer Canal User Working Group meeting – 19th February (Sue O’Hare, Phil Sharpe and Helen Westlake to represent IWA)
    • CRT Council Boater Representatives meeting – 25th February (Sue O’Hare to represent IWA)
    • CRT Council meeting – 18th March (Sue O’Hare to represent IWA)
    • CRT meeting with national boating organisations – 24th March (Sue O’Hare and Mike Wills to represent IWA)
    • Environment Agency National Waterways Forum / National Waterways Advisory Group meeting – 25th March (Sue O’Hare to represent IWA)

    Sue O’Hare
    Chair of Navigation Committee
    26th January 2026

    Previous reports from Navigation Committee are available here.

  • Langport’s River Regeneration Celebrated in New Film

    Langport’s River Regeneration Celebrated in New Film

    • Riverside revival £300k Langport River Project has transformed 7.6 miles of river into a visitor destination, attracting around 250,000 people a year, helping new cafés, shops and services thrive
    • Community Cocklemoor meadow and Huish Bridge now boast renewed pathways, pontoons, canoe steps, fishing platforms, picnic areas, a slipway, cycle hire and a community boat, thanks to a partnership between Langport Town Council and IWA
    • Lasting impact With smart solar lighting, e-bike charging, recycled materials and biodiversity monitoring, the project delivers sustainability as well as local pride: plans are for more paths, parking and moorings

    Regeneration of the riverside in Langport, Somerset, has given this traditional market town a new lease of life. Five years on from initial completion of the Langport River Project, the Upper River Parrett attracts around 250,000 visitors per year and new businesses and services have opened in the town.  

    To celebrate the project’s success, local film-maker Gordon McKerrow has produced a short documentary about how it has helped boost Langport. The film was first screened in Langport on 16th of September to celebrate partnership and volunteer effort by the council and IWA, alongside community groups and local businesses.  

    Val Saunders commented: 

    “A range of new businesses have opened since the river project brought new life to the town. Langport has become a café culture centre and we rarely have an empty shop on the high street. The town has developed a renewed sense of civic pride.” 

    While the project ensured that 7.6 miles of river are now navigable for trail boats and paddle craft, its focus was to create an attractive destination in the centre of town, between Bow Bridge and Huish Bridge. The picturesque Cocklemoor lies at its heart, with activities including walking, paddleboarding, swimming, fishing, cycling and boat trips. Now, approximately 250,000 people per year visit the riverside.  

    Ray Alexander added: “Langport’s story shows just what can be done to enhance an area by improving its waterway and waterside. It wasn’t a big, multi-million-pound project, but it has achieved so much for the area.” 

    And Gerard Tucker, Town Clerk, concluded:  

    “The Langport Community expresses its gratitude to the IWA for their support in helping Langport in the delivery of its vision. We do not consider the regeneration of Langport to be complete and the refurbishment of more paths, creation pf cycle paths and additional parking are on our list for one day! Perhaps even a mooring for our community boat, The Duchess of Cocklemoor, to make it easier for people to access and enjoy the river.” 

    The funding neared £300,000 ten years ago, sourced from a combination of European funds, local authorities and the Canoe Foundation.  

    More about the regeneration 

    A 7.6 mile stretch of the river and its tributaries is now designated as navigable, from the sluice gates of Oath Lock upstream to Thorney Mills half lock (disused) along with short sections of the River Yeo and the River Isle. Fortunately, no major remedial navigational work, such as dredging or lock repair, was needed.  

    Cocklemoor is a riverside meadow with new pathways, pontoons, canoe steps, accessible fishing platforms, picnic spots, seating and information boards. From here, Langport’s community boat The Duchess of Cocklemoor runs pre-booked trips, led by local volunteers. 

    At Huish Bridge, the slipway has been restored for trail boats and paddle craft, with a new car park and community space. Langport Town Council acquired both Cocklemoor and the Huish Bridge slipway from the Environment Agency to deliver the project. Nearby, a cycle hire operates at Bow Bridge and a rowing club is based at Huish Bridge. 

    Sustainability, wellbeing and ecology were forefronted. The facilities include ‘smart’ solar lighting, recycled plastic furniture, e-bike charging points, outdoor exercise equipment and locally made willow bird hides. A system of monitoring the biodiversity of the riverbank has been established. 

    The IWA West Country Branch worked with councillors and council staff to initiate the project and see it through. An IWA consultant engineer surveyed the slipway and advised on its restoration. IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group helped at Langport on three occasions: removing silt from the slipway, undertaking tree clearance works and, earlier this year, renewing the paths across Cocklemoor.  

  • Navigation saved with details finalised for formation of new charity

    Navigation saved with details finalised for formation of new charity

    IWA has successfully completed the final details in setting up the new charity designed to increase support for the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation in Essex.  

    In November 2024, plans were announced by IWA’s trustees and the board of Essex Waterways Ltd to form a new charity, whose objectives were the continued success of the Navigation. With the share in Essex Waterways Ltd transferred to Essex Waterways Navigation Trust on 31st March, the arrangements are now complete. 

    Managed by IWA’s wholly owned subsidiary, Essex Waterways Ltd, the Navigation has been a great success. It has gone from a position of near bankruptcy and poor maintenance to a much-loved amenity enjoyed by an appreciative local population and promoted as a star attraction of the county by both Visit Essex and the local authorities.  

    Not only has the historic waterway been enjoyed by many visitors and locals, it has also provided significant employment with trip boats and waterside businesses, as well as maintenance work.  The Navigation has become a model of efficient operation and sustainable management. 

    IWA and Essex Waterways Navigation Trust will maintain close relations, and some of the charitable activities performed by Essex Waterways Ltd will transfer to the new charity.  Freehold ownership of the Navigation remains with the Company of Proprietors of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation, established in 1793 by Act of Parliament, which has contracted Essex Waterways to manage the Navigation for as long as Essex Waterways Ltd wishes to do so.  

    Mike Wills, IWA national chair, said: “After a joint review by both IWA’s trustees and the directors of Essex Waterways Ltd a new chapter has started, and all the final details have now been satisfactorily settled. IWA’s commitment to the Navigation is undiminished, and we are pleased that it will stay connected as part of a wider IWA family.” 

    Roy Chandler, chair of Essex Waterways Ltd, said: “Taking on management of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation was a courageous decision by IWA’s trustees in 2005, and we are grateful for the confidence and support for our endeavours over the past 20 years.  We believe that we have demonstrated how an inland navigation can be managed to a high standard on a modest budget, in sympathy with the local environment and support and goodwill of appreciative users We have faced many challenges over the years, and no doubt there will be many more to overcome in future years.    “We appreciate the recent encouragement of Chelmsford City Council to extend Navigation into Chelmsford City Centre outlined in its recently published draft Local Plan, and we look forward to operating the recently restored historic lighter ‘Susan’ on the Navigation.  At the heart of this are our enthusiastic staff and dedicated volunteers, without whom none of this would have been possible.”

    [The photo shows ]

  • Peel Ports Bids to Impose an Annual Fee on Boaters on the River Clyde

    Peel Ports Bids to Impose an Annual Fee on Boaters on the River Clyde

    The Peel Ports Group owns Clydeport, which functions as the harbour authority for 450 square miles of waterway in and around the River Clyde and its estuary.

    Recently they announced that they would be imposing an annual fee, commencing in April 2025, on all leisure craft operating on their waterways which includes Loch Fyne giving access to the Crinan Canal. The charge will apply to boats between 6 metres and 24 metres in length within the Clyde jurisdiction north of Irvine, and will apply to permanent berths and visitors. The charge proposed is £120 per annum and £90 for summer.

  • Fund Britain’s Waterways Government Autumn Budget Submission

    Fund Britain’s Waterways Government Autumn Budget Submission

    Fund Britain’s Waterways is a growing action group currently comprising 136 member organisations representing hundreds of thousands of users and supporters of inland waterways. Its sole purpose is to campaign collectively for an increase in government funding of Britain’s inland waterways to avert their decline, and to promote awareness of the huge economic, environmental and social well-being value they provide.

    Our request to Government is that:

    1. the importance of our inland waterways as a unique national asset and part of the national infrastructure is recognised;
    2. the deterioration in condition that is already happening is acknowledged; and
    3. a comprehensive review of Government funding for all our inland waterways should be carried out as a matter of urgency, with the aim of defining a sustainable funding solution which will enable the current benefits of our canals and rivers to be maintained and enhanced for future generations.

    To fund our inland waterways properly would cost a small (in Government terms) investment measured in millions, not billions, of pounds. In return, the country would continue to obtain billions of pounds of benefits for health, economic and environmental benefits, much of those benefits being enjoyed in less well-off areas.

    We are already seeing the waterways deteriorating and businesses suffering. Without urgent action the inland waterway network will be in serious jeopardy. If the condition of waterways continues to deteriorate, waterways will ultimately have to be closed, businesses will be harmed, communities placed at risk, the benefits lost, and millions of hours of volunteer effort wasted.

    Read the full submission here.

  • IWA Responds to Broads Navigation Charges Increase Challenge 

    IWA Responds to Broads Navigation Charges Increase Challenge 

    IWA has submitted a representation to the Secretary of State regarding the toll increases imposed on boaters on Broads Authority navigations. In December 2023, the Broads Hire Boat Federation launched a challenge, under the Harbours Act, against the Broads Authority’s decision to increase tolls by 13% in 2023. As part of this process interested parties were invited to submit representations to the Department of Transport to assist with the decision.  

    The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads have National Park status, but navigation is integral to their character, bringing economic, environmental, and societal benefits to the region. Consequently, maintaining the safety of navigators and funding adequate maintenance is crucial. Unlike other major inland navigation authorities, the Broads Authority does not receive government funding for navigation maintenance and relies solely on toll revenue. 

    In the letter to the Secretary of State IWA expressed concern over the toll increases but acknowledged the challenges faced due to inflation and climate change. Climate change, in particular, has significantly impacted the Broads, necessitating increased resources for maintenance and safety provisions. 

    However boatyards and private boat owners are finding these toll rises difficult. The toll hikes have led to a decline in boat movement, posing a threat to the essential character of the Broads and potentially degrading its National Park status. 

    IWA urged the government to recognise the necessity of financial support to ensure the continued maintenance of navigation and preservation of the Broads’ character. Appropriate provision would enable tolls to be kept affordable and boats to continue as a defining feature of the Broads. 

  • IWA Concern at threatened closure of access to the Neath Canal

    IWA Concern at threatened closure of access to the Neath Canal

    IWA has expressed its deep concerns at plans announced by the local authority, in a recent consultation, to cease funding of towpath access to the Neath Canal, which would likely lead to the Canal being entirely closed off to public access. In a letter to the leader of the Council, chair of IWA’s Navigation Committee, Sue O’Hare, urged Neath Port Talbot Council to recognise the value of public access to whole length of the Neath Canal and to work with the private owner to ensure the continued benefits that use of this valuable asset bring to the community. Much of the Neath Canal is owned by property developers St Modwen, to which the Council pays an annual fee to maintain public access.

    IWA’s letter draws attention to the Association’s recent report Waterways for Today which demonstrates the benefits of inland waterways and highlights twelve specific themes, and the recent article “Waterways at Risk” in the Local Government Association’s First Magazine, written by Sir Robert Atkins, IWA trustee, former waterways minister and MEP. The Council has suggested that it could save £135,000 by terminating access agreements.

    The benefits and importance of the towpath as a local amenity are recognised in the Council’s Rights of Way Improvement Plan. There have also been, so far unsuccessful, attempts, dating back since 1990, to get the towpaths of both the Neath and Tennant canals recognised as public rights of way.

    The 13.5-mile (21.7 km) Neath Canal stretches from Pontneddfechan to Neath, has 19 locks and was first completed in 1795, with extensions added from Neath to Giant’s Grave a year later, and further private extensions including the Jersey Canal, reaching Briton Ferry by 1842. Since construction the waterway has been owned by the Neath Canal Company, but that company is currently owned by St Modwen the property developers, who acquired it from petrochemical giant BP as part of a major industrial land redevelopment.  BP had originally acquired the canal company for industrial water supply purposes. Use of the Canal for navigation purposes ceased in the 1930s, but restoration was proposed in 1974 with the formation of Neath and Tennant Canals Preservation Society (now Neath and Tennant Canals Trust), and more recently Ty Banc Canal Group has formed to work on the northern part of the canal. From 1974 to 1990 the canal benefited from job creation schemes run by the Manpower Services Commission and Youth Training Scheme to work on the northern section from Resolven to Ysgwrfa.  By 1990 there was 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of navigable canal, including 7 restored locks and a slipway at Resolven Basin. It received a 1998 Europa Nostra award for the quality of the work, and a Civic Trust Award in 1992. The £4 million project was jointly funded by the Welsh Office and the Prince of Wales Trust. At one time, there were two trip boats on the canal, but both have ceased operating.

    [The photo shows a trail boat on the Neath Canal at an IWA National Trailboat Festival]

  • Canalway Cavalcade 2022 declared a great success

    Canalway Cavalcade 2022 declared a great success

    Beautiful weather on the opening day saw record numbers of visitors to the event with over 120 boats gleaming in the pool and along the Grand Union and Regents Canals. As with most years, many travelled from far across the country but, encouragingly, we welcomed many boaters closer to home, with a fantastic representation of the London based boating community. 

    Alongside the shining brass work and bunting, interspersed with many boats flying the Ukrainian flag in solidarity, we had a selection of events and activities. The Noyze Boyz Jazz Band burst into life as the festivities kicked off on Saturday, and soon the pool was buzzing with beautifully decorated boats parading in front of an eager audience. Elsewhere in the festival we had a variety of stalls selling their wares. Including jewellery, traditional painted boating paraphernalia, beautiful lamp shades and much more. This year we were also delighted to welcome Midland Chandlers, and Tim and Sam from Youtube Channel ‘Chugging Along’ promoting their brilliant board game ‘Argy Bargey’. As has become the tradition, the Stone Wharf offered the hub for many food and beverages, keeping the hungry visitors sustained whilst they listened to colourful live music in the festival real ale bar. 

    At midday on our first day Libby Bradshaw, Ceremonial and Children’s Activities Manager, introduced the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Andrew Smith, who welcomed everyone to the City of Westminster and thanked IWA for putting on the event. Richard Parry, Chief Executive of Canal & River Trust followed with his thanks. John Edmonds, IWA London Region Vice-President welcomed everyone to the event paying special attention to the dedication from volunteers for organising the event. And finally Tom Claydon, Chair of the organising committee, thanked the volunteers, committee members and supporters. Wrapping up the presentation, Libby thanked British Land for their sponsorship and support before the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Andrew Smith rang the bell to formally open the event. This was echoed by cheers around the pool, the ringing of bells and horns, and the start of the Pageant. 

    In Rembrandt Gardens children and adults alike were entertained by Punch and Judy, the Noisy Oyster, a circus workshop, and the legendary Alarum Theatre with pieces such as “I Dig Canals”. Faces were being painted and there was plenty of learning and joviality in the marquee over the weekend. Sunday saw the wonderful Teddy Bears’ picnic in the beautiful surrounds of the garden and even the sun came out to warm the crowds. Other children’s activities were led by the Floating Classroom on the Electric Barge, the Church Army and the Pirate Castle from Camden.  

    On Sunday evening Craig Haslam once again excelled as Master of Ceremonies for the Procession of Illuminated Boats, where the boaters covered their boats (and themselves) with as many lights as would fit – we even had two illuminated banana costumes. Mark Saxon, Waterspace Manager, produced a spectacular display with disco lights, glitter balls and even a smoke machine! 

    On Monday afternoon, the awards were presented by John Edmonds. 

    Marcus Boudier Trophy

    For the best decorated privately entered boat in Saturday’s themed Pageant, was awarded to Rachel, steerer Mark Saxon, and the Canal Dream Team led by Chuntian Hu, of the Royal College of Art, and Ran Yan of Central Saint Martins University of the Arts, London.                                                                              

    Runner up: Thyme, steerer Elizabeth Jones

    The Ray Dunford Buckby Can Trophy

    For the best decorated boat entered by a waterway or community group:

    Red Watch, steerer Tony Catchpole

    The Cruise Electric Trophy

    For the best illuminated boat in Sunday evening’s Procession:

    Tros Yr Afon, steerer Phil Gaskell

    Runners up: Giant Anteater, steerer Gary Howes; and Annie & Walt, owners Mike & Lorraine Newman

    The Graham Capelin Award

    For the best entry by a boater who has not previously taken part in either the Saturday Pageant or Illuminated Boats:

    Giant Anteater, steerer Gary Howes

    The Westminster Trophy

    Donated by the City of Westminster for the winner of the Boat Handling Competition:

    Middlesex, steerer Robin Hendley

    Runner up: Tintagel, steerer Graham Smith

    The Roger Squires Trophy

    Presented by St Pancras Cruising Club in recognition of Roger’s ten years as their Commodore, it is awarded to the best novice competitor in the Boat Handling Competition:

    Thistle Doo, steerer Charlotte Trimby

    Runner up: Barossa, steerer Colin Warner

    The Mike Stevens Memorial Trophy

    Goes to the “Best Boat” at Canalway Cavalcade, selected from all the boat entries at the event, it is awarded in recognition of Mike’s outstanding contribution to IWA and Canalway Cavalcade during his lifetime:

    Ampere, owners Malcolm & Barbara Bridge

    The Idle Women Shield

    Sponsored by Jan Knox, proprietor of Canal Experience Training School, the shield was awarded to the best lady entrant in the Boat Handling Competition:

    Ampere, steerer Barbara Bridge

    Runner up: Stella, steerer Karen Cook

    A new prize, Graham’s Choice Bear (with a backpack) for helpfulness and kindness, in memory of our special Cavalcade friend, Graham Nunn, of the Church Army, was awarded to Olivia Parlett. Olivia, now in her teens, has been attending Cavalcade since she was very small and specifically wanted to help to ensure the little ones attending the Teddy Bears’ Picnic on Sunday afternoon enjoyed it as much as she had done as a little girl.

    Tom Claydon, chair of the IWA Canalway Cavalcade Organising Committee said: “It’s wonderful to Welcome Back everyone to Little Venice for IWA Canalway Cavalcade 2022. A truly incredible spectacle in the heart of London’s waterways. This event would not be possible without the 10,000 hours of dedicated volunteer time, and I thank each and every person for making this such a great success.

  • Celebrating ASHTAC 50 years on

    Celebrating ASHTAC 50 years on

    Ashton Attack (ASHTAC for short) followed on from Operation Ashton, the campaign to save the Ashton Canal. Approximately 1000 people worked on the Ashton Canal and the Lower Peak Forest Canal over a single weekend in March 1972. The event contributed to the Cheshire Ring being fully re-opened to navigation in 1976.

    Ten years ago a large scale clean up took place to celebrate the 40th anniversary, with over 100 volunteers travelling from all over the country, including many of the original participants of the 1972 event. The 50th anniversary event was slightly more modest, with uncertainties over Covid preventing the planning of a larger scale event, but with a significant amount of work being carried out.

    The event held on 21st and 22nd March saw over 30 volunteers from the local area and from across the north west area, cleaning up the Ashton canal in the vicinity of Portland Basin. Tasks included litter picking, vegetation removing, tree cutting and general canal-side tidying.

    The event was organised by Tameside Canal Boat Trust, Canal & River Trust and IWA Manchester Branch with help from ASDA Ashton, Tameside Sea Cadets, Portland Basin Museum, Jigsaw Homes and the Wooden Canal Boat Society.

  • Community moorings

    Community moorings

    Co-operative moorings, community moorings… Call them what you will but one thing is certain – they’ve become something of a buzzword on our waterways in recent years.

    In London especially, where the growing number of people living aboard is putting ever greater pressure on mooring space, they’re being hailed as one of the few success stories to date in tackling the problem. So much so that IWA’s Vision for London document in 2019 identified the creation of more community moorings as key to future policy in the capital.

    What are co-operative moorings?

    Co-operative moorings are owned and run by the boaters living there. They are usually small in scale (most contain no more than ten boats) and often in disused basins or derelict canalside sites.

    Paul Strudwick, IWA’s London Region chair, says: “The idea of the community moorings is to use places – basins, off-side stretches – that are currently waiting for development. They’re often locations that can’t have long-term or permanent moorings, or any work that could reduce future options for developers.”

    In the same way that charity shops are sometimes given short-term leases for empty units before a permanent business moves in, so a group of boaters might set up a co-operative to look after the land for the duration of the lease and operate the moorings, continues Paul. It’s not a new idea, but in the past, especially in London, efforts to set them up haven’t always got off the ground. “We’re hoping that with IWA support, new co-ops will have more success.”

    And indeed they are. The Surge Co-op is a case in point. Al Cree is one of its founder members. His quest for somewhere permanent and reasonably priced to live afloat in London was complicated further by the size of his craft – it’s a beast, at 127ft x 17ft, of a Belgian freight barge. When development around his former mooring forced him to move off in 2016, he started looking at other offerings on the tidal section of the River Lea.

    Affordable moorings

    In the end he found a “friendly factory owner” on the Channelsea River, who allowed Al to moor outside and have access from their yard. When other boaters kept asking if they could moor there too, four of them set up Surge, a non-profit organisation with the primary focus of reanimating Bow Creek with affordable, co-operatively run moorings.

    He explains: “It’s not Canal & River Trust land, so we can set up moorings with minimal capital cost. We’re using a standard co-operative housing model where everyone will pay to cover the initial loans/expenditure and generate a constant income for upkeep and creative workshops/community outreach.”

    There’s also a focus on ecological engagement, with regular river clean-ups and replanting already underway.

    Community and heritage benefits of co-operatives

    Ultimately the mooring will include all the main services, including visitor mooring, plus access for rowers and other watersports. Another key point, says Al, is that all the vessels will be valued beforehand, and that won’t include the mooring, so no one will be able to profit from the sale of their boat in its current location. “That’s one of the key problems in London – people selling their boat and cashing in on where it’s moored. It prices people out of the waterways.”

    At Surge’s current site, members are hoping to eventually accommodate eight larger boats, but the group’s ultimate vision is up to 200 moorings along the whole of this tidal river. “There are over 40 known, disused wharves, so historically there would have been hundreds of barges here. There’s so much opportunity and it would be a real shame if we lost this waterways heritage,” says Al.

    Not far away is Cody Dock, another thriving creative and community hub on the River Lea in Newham, East London. Gasworks Dock Partnership, a registered charity and social enterprise, has been operating two tidal live/work moorings beside the dock since 2011 and plans are now underway to restore and reactivate the brick-lined dock itself to create a further seven moorings within it. The charity says the new moorings “will form an integral part of [its] sustainable business model and provide an exciting way of continuing the strong community focus that has been at the heart of Cody Dock’s restoration”.

    “Ecology, history, art and volunteering”

    But community moorings are by no means confined to the capital. Wolverhampton Urban Moorings on the Wyrley & Essington Canal are a great example of how boaters can help themselves elsewhere on the system too. The group was previously based at Minerva Works, Digbeth, where it used its volunteer experience with CRT to create the Friends of Warwick Bar canal adoption scheme, regenerating a run down and underused section of canal.

    When this site was sold, the group secured a longterm lease for a community mooring at a disused wharf in Wolverhampton. In 2016 they set to work transforming it into a community centre and garden for boaters and local land-dwellers alike, with a focus on sustainability and the arts. But the over-riding aim, says the group, is “to create mooring sites that boaters actually want, integrating ecology, history, art and volunteering”.

  • New Ashby Canal path update

    New Ashby Canal path update

    Volunteers rolled up their sleeves to clear and level a section of the path. Several new gates are now installed on the trail that will create a safe pathway link between the village and the canal. A delivery of 20 waymarkers are also keeping the hard-working volunteers busy.

    The village of Snarestone at the terminus of the canal is a short walk from Measham. However, there is little to link the two settlements. Waterway users arriving at Snarestone along the canal often aren’t aware that Measham- with its shops and facilities – is close by. To get to the village, people currently have to walk country lanes with poor visibility and unsafe verges.

    We hope the trail will help to regenerate the area, as well as highlight the local heritage. The project is funded by our Waterways in Progress grant. Find out more about the Ashby Canal Trail: Regeneration

  • 7,000 miles of British waterways now identified

    7,000 miles of British waterways now identified

    New research reveals a total of 7,000 miles of waterways in Great Britain. Of these, 5,000 of the miles are navigable today. The other 2,000 miles are either derelict or under restoration. 

    Our Waterways Directory is an invaluable and unrivalled waterways resource that details all the inland waterways ever brought into navigation. It has been updated with thorough research by IWA experts and local volunteers. 

    The main sources of the additional 500 miles uncovered are:

    • further research in Scotland
    • improved coverage of former routes of river navigations
    • including more significant branches of the Grand Union Canal in the London area

    The research informs our local campaigning and sprung out of the need to know who was responsible for what waterway. The new version also lists every local authority responsible for the areas through which each waterway passes. Local IWA volunteers use the Directory to contact navigation authorities and work towards better local waterways. 

    John Pomfret, the IWA navigation expert who compiled the directory, explained: “The Directory has been updated to give an authoritative record of the country’s waterways assets, the only place the information is available in one place in such an accessible form.” 

    “It highlights the complexity of protecting and restoring the waterways, with over 200 navigation bodies in Great Britain, and the scale of the invaluable heritage and habitats of our canals and rivers,” he said. 

    Download the latest version of the Directory.

  • New reporting tool for waterway access issues

    New reporting tool for waterway access issues

    Our inland waterways are vibrant, valuable green spaces that connect city and countryside, alive with boats and enjoyed by millions. They can bring an enormous sense of wellbeing to the people that enjoy them. But there are places where waterways are difficult to access and use.

    We have launched the Waterways Watch initiative to help us get a good picture of the issues that affect our country’s canals and rivers. We want to know about problems experienced by you as you use them.

    access to Canal & River paths

    Right now, we want to know about any issues you have experienced accessing your local waterways during the current lockdown. This could include places where you find it difficult to access the towpath or move along it, or where paths don’t exist.

    Overgrown Vegetation & DREDGING

    Once boating is possible, we also want to hear about places that need dredging – where boats are grounding in the middle of the channel, or experiencing difficulties entering or exiting a lock due to channel depth. In addition, we want to hear about problematic vegetation. This could be anywhere the towpath, waterway, sight line or winding hole is blocked by vegetation growth.

    Evidence gained from surveys such as this allow us to build up a better picture of issues we should be raising with navigation authorities, at a local and national level. It also enables us to gather evidence to lobby government for better funding for the inland waterways.  This initiative follows on from our 2018 Gaptracker survey, where we asked boaters to identify areas on the UK’s waterways where facilities were missing or in poor condition.  Hundreds of comments were received about facilities, that we followed up with nine different navigation authorities.

    Waterways Watch reporting

    We want the waterways to be accessible for the communities that enjoy them. So, please do tell us of any specific problems through our Waterways Watch reporting form. Please report any urgent or emergency issues to the relevant navigation authority.

    Complete the Waterways Watch reporting form

  • Walking London’s Towpaths

    Walking London’s Towpaths

    IWA Towpath Walks guide Charlie Forman gives his perspective.

    I’ve been with Towpath Walks for five years, although the scheme itself has been running for much longer than that, since 1977. I joined as a newly qualified guide, realising it would be a golden opportunity to have a ready-made audience of walkers expecting a professional service, as well as to indulge my love of the waterways and social history.

    I’m very much fascinated by what makes places work, and canals were a critical part of the infrastructure of our cities. Understanding how they operated and supplied the city and the people who worked on them was my way in, rather than being interested in the boats themselves.

    I don’t go on the canals that often, but I do walk alongside them regularly. I’m a volunteer at the London Canal Museum too, so a lot of the expertise from there has filtered through and helps when guiding the walks. I think I’ve got more interested in some of the boating and warehousing details as a result.

    London locals

    Our groups contain quite a mix of people. There are a few dedicated members of IWA who come along, and you have to be careful that you get your facts right! They sometimes know more than I do. And a lot of people are London locals who are just keen to explore their own city. They’re a great audience to have. You also get a number of tourists.

    The canals are effectively a linear path cutting through the middle of our city, so for the tourist it’s an amazing way to see the capital without the noise and pollution of walking the streets. Obviously the towpaths themselves can also get quite busy, but it’s certainly a very different perspective they offer. Thanks to the quality of our guiding, I think all our customers leave feeling satisfied they’ve gained an insight into London that they would never otherwise have had.

    Challenges

    Because they’re based on a towpath, our walks aren’t difficult to follow, but they can be quite hard to manage because there isn’t a lot of space.

    Sunny weekends can be particularly problematic – a combination of lots of other people out enjoying the canal, and big groups on our walking tours. The two together can be challenging. Throw cyclists into the mix and it can become even more problematic. I don’t want to demonise cyclists (I can’t, because I am one myself), but a bit more courtesy and common sense from some of them would certainly help. Most, fortunately, are very respectful.

    King’s Cross to Camden and Little Venice to Camden along the Regent’s Canal are probably our two most popular walks, but you often get surprises. It’s hard to predict. You can do the same walk twice and on one occasion get five people and the next time 25 or even 30, despite the weather conditions being apparently no different.

    Other walks that can pull in a big crowd are West India Docks and the Olympic Park. The way the Olympic Park has developed is very much intertwined with the history of the waterways that are running through it, so that’s always a good story to tell.

    Personal favourite LONDON WALK

    As a guide, one of the walks I enjoy most is Kings Cross to Camden. You can chart more of the history of the canal in that walk than in any other. It’s all there. The great success of the planning of the area has been the preservation of some of the old goods yards and infrastructure, which you can highlight as something that connects the canal with its past.

    Of course, there are also disputes about how successful the whole development is, but I personally think it’s one of the areas that has been done best. The restored gas holders, for example, and the nature reserve. You’ve got everything in one spot, almost.

    It’s a great walk and I always enjoy it. At the moment we offer somewhere between 15 and 20 different walking routes. Some are a bit difficult to get to so aren’t run very often. We’re always looking for new places.

    The walks are relatively flat so can be excellent for people whose mobility isn’t good. Not all the access points to towpaths have ramps (some require getting up or down quite steep stairs) and sometimes the surface can be rough. Having said that, I’ve guided people who aren’t strong walkers and have still managed to finish pretty much on time. And I’ve done walks with people using mobility scooters, which is perfectly manageable if you can plan ahead.

    Weather woes

    Our service is a partnership with London Walks, which has a year-round programme and under normal circumstances, gives us a guaranteed slot every other Sunday afternoon.

    The quid pro quo is that we always have to be available, whether it’s a lovely day in June or a snowstorm at the beginning of January. We’re there come rain or shine and, in one case, fog. On that particular occasion, in the Lee Valley, I could basically only offer an audio commentary. I had to describe what people would have seen had there not been such adverse conditions. Thankfully they all got into the spirit of it. The fog was so thick that when I went home at the end of the walk I got lost twice myself! We never cancel. What I say to people on a really bad day is that I’m going to carry on doing this walk until there’s no one left to listen to me.

    Something for everyone

    There is something in the walks for everybody, from primary school children right up to people who have memories of the canals as working, industrial waterways. It’s one of the things that make the walks come alive and keep them fresh for me every time.

    Another thing is that the canals are changing quite fast, so you have to stay alert to that. Part of their story is this change, and how we’ve managed to save the canals over the last 40 years from potentially being infilled and built over with new office blocks, specifically around City Basin.

    Finally, it’s important to recognise that another motivation for all of us guides is the fundraising aspect. If you’ve got 25 people per walk, you’re probably going to pick up the best part of £200 or more. That’s quite a significant contribution to IWA. Add all that together over the years and it’s a terrific sum we’ve raised – over £48,000,

    Join the team

    Towpath Walks is looking for volunteer guides to join the existing team at the IWA Towpath Walks Society, in London. The society, in partnership with London Walks, carries out a regular series of guided walks along London’s canals.

    The walks last just over two hours and take place on two Sunday afternoons each month starting at a tube or DLR station. They’re a great way to introduce people to the waterways, and to raise money for IWA.

    All that is needed is an interest in waterways, an enjoyment of sharing your knowledge with others and a love of walking. A full briefing will be provided for the series and each individual walk. You will be part of a team so you can do as many or as few walks as you like.

    There are a set of walking routes already planned and being carried out, so there is little preparation to be done. However, if you would like to add more walks to our programme then this may be possible. If you would like to help, please contact londonwalks@waterways.org.uk

  • IWA’s Voice is Heard in Ely

    IWA’s Voice is Heard in Ely

    Whilst IWA would have preferred the land to remain in the ownership of EA, for future navigation income and legacy, the purchase by East Cambridgeshire District Council means that the land will remain in public ownership and as such IWA welcomes the announcement.

    IWA hopes that this will bring a more secure future to the three waterway-related businesses based at the site:  Bridge Boatyard, which has been operating for over 40 years and which is now the only holiday boat hire company on the River Great Ouse, hotel barge Water Nimf and The Boat Yard boat restoration business.

    The three plots of land, amounting to over 300 metres of river frontage in total, had been offered for sale by private auction last summer.  IWA considered that this was extremely short-sighted given that the businesses and moorings at this location bring in an income to EA as the navigation authority, and wrote to EA, the Waterway Minister, MPs and local councillors to raise concerns.  As a result of the number of representations received, EA confirmed to IWA several weeks after the closing date for bids that it was reviewing the situation.

    Bridge Boatyard brings between 2000 and 2500 people on to the river each year on their hire boats, the loss of which would have had a serious effect on the tourism and leisure use of the river and consequently on the economy of Ely and other towns and villages along the river through loss of visitor spend.

    After an uncertain few months for the businesses based at the site, the announcement this week in a letter from EA to IWA, stating that the land would remain in public ownership through its sale to the council, is welcome.

    IWA Eastern Region Chairman, Chris Howes, said “East Cambridgeshire District Council is to be congratulated on its acquisition and stepping in to keep the waterside businesses going.  We understand that the Council has ambitions for the regeneration of this part of the City of Ely and hope that in developing this area the current navigation and leisure activities will be preserved and encouraged.”

  • Get your bike towpath-ready

    Get your bike towpath-ready

    Want to take your bike along the towpath but not sure where to start? Dedicated volunteer and cycling enthusiast Richard Worthington has put together information and advice to help get you cycling along the canals.

    Towpath

    Checking out the state of the towpath beforehand will give an idea of the sort of preparation you need. Some are just like a pavement, others a rough track or gravel path. Whilst they are generally flat (apart from where the are locks or tunnels), they can vary in width and surface along their length. A rougher track can contain ruts and potholes that could bounce you into the canal if taken at too high a speed. Very muddy towpaths can be slippery and dangerous.

    Bike

    You don’t need a serious off-road mountain bike for towpath use, anything other than racing bike should be fine.

    Courtesy

    Cyclists on a towpath need to take care if there are other people using it. Walkers, joggers, anglers and other cyclists are common (plus the occasional volunteer) and pedestrians have the right of way, so moderating your speed, giving way and using a bell are important. Read our Waterways Cycling Code.

    Tyres

    Hybrid tyres (flat in the middle, knobbly on the edges) or a thinner mountain tyre should do on most towpaths, giving a smooth ride on harder paths and enough grip on a rough one. Oversized offroad tyres are unnecessary and will probably churn up and damage the towpath, particularly if it’s been raining.

    Mudguards

    Mudguards will stop you getting covered in water and mud and can also protect the gears and brakes of your bike from getting clogged up.

    Punctures

    You can get a puncture anywhere but on a towpath they’re likely to be from thorny vegetation. There are a number of ways to help prevent them:

    • Selfsealing inner tubes contain a glue which will seal small holes for a few pounds more than a standard tube
    • Tyre liners go between the tube and tyre to add an extra layer for under £10
    • Puncture resistant tyres offer the greatest overall protection for £15 and up

    If you do get a puncture, the quickest way to fix it is to carry a spare tube and patch the punctured one when you get home. Obviously a pump is essential and the tools to do the work. Carefully check the tyre to make sure there isn’t anything still stuck in it to cause another puncture.

    Repairs

    In addition to a puncture repair kit or tube, a small cycling multitool can mean the difference between cycling and walking home. If you are going for a longer ride additional tools can be useful, but this needs considering against weight and space.

    Find out more about cycling near the waterways, including cycle routes and our Waterways Cycling Code.