Our petition has reached 50,000 signatures!
Thank you so much to everyone who has signed and helped us achieve this milestone. It isn’t enough though. There are far more people who love and value our canals and rivers, and we need your help to get our message to them.
What is our message?
A reminder of the message of Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW): Britain’s 5,000 miles of canals and navigable rivers are a highly valued national asset for boaters and non-boaters alike, and must be safeguarded for future generations to come.
Our inland waterways are enjoyed by millions of people each year and their associated businesses provide crucial employment for communities up and down the land. Many millions of hours of volunteer effort have already gone into restoring and protecting them and volunteers across the country are continuing this work. However, without sustainable funding arrangements for the future all this is being put at risk.
But isn’t this all in the future?
This is not just for the future, we are seeing the impact of inadequate funding on waterways across the country now.
Issues are getting into the mainstream media. The last two episodes of BBC Countryfile have highlighted problems. On 3 March there was a detailed look at what’s involved in maintaining and restoring historic waterways and the impact of funding cuts for the Canal & River Trust. On 10 March the importance of the flood protection provided by internal drainage boards like the Middle Level Commissioners in East Anglia was explained – but rising energy bills are causing difficulties.
Again in East Anglia, the lack of dredging by the Environment Agency means that Salter’s Lode Lock cannot be opened. Since this is the link between the Middle Level Navigations and the Great Ouse, 130 miles of waterway are cut off from the rest of the network with no opening date in sight. Boaters are stranded and businesses are suffering. Lack of maintenance in adjacent areas is also calling into question the effectiveness of flood defence and alleviation plans for local communities.
Meanwhile on the Broads boat tolls have had to be raised so much to cover rising costs and lack of government funding that there are legal disputes going on.
Elsewhere, waterways maintained by local authorities are starting to face cuts, notably the Basingstoke Canal, the Bude Canal and the Neath Canal.
This is only the start and if the funding situation is not properly addressed the situation will get worse and we will lose parts of our waterway system.
What are we planning for 2024?
FBW is continuing to bring waterway supporters together and we now have over 120 organisations as members, including national bodies as well as a host of other national and local waterway-related organisations and businesses of all sizes. In 2023 we held three campaign cruises, in Birmingham, Gloucester and past the Palace of Westminster on the Thames. All were well-reported and together they have substantially raised awareness of the challenges facing our canals and rivers and the need for action.
This year we will be holding a national weekend of action over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend (4-6 May 2024) to highlight the impact of insufficient funding for Britain’s inland waterways. This will coincide with the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) annual Canalway Cavalcade at Little Venice in London, and will culminate in a Campaign Cruise past the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday 8 May. Parliamentarians will be encouraged to view the event and express their support for the continued maintenance of the waterways to enable them to keep on delivering economic, health, environmental and well-being benefits.
In addition to our own events, FBW will be promoted at many other events throughout the year. We would appreciate as many supporters as possible helping to publicise these events and attending them. See the FBW website for further details.
Why are we doing this?
In April one of the members of the FBW steering group, Hazel, will be cruising down to London from Yorkshire, a journey of over 200 miles and 100 locks, before joining with other boaters at the IWA Canalway Cavalcade 4-6 May where the Illuminated boats cruise will promote FBW. Then it will be onto the tidal Thames for the FBW Campaign Cruise to Westminster on 8 May where a flotilla of boats (currently around 30) will stand off the Palace of Westminster and attract the attention of the parliamentarians and public by sounding their horns.
Hazel says: “If you think that we are all doing this for glory, think again! As for the initial Why? I feel we are making a difference with 122 organisations having joined FBW and 50,000+ people having signed the petition. We are passionate about our waterways and environment. We are doing this for current and future generations to enjoy the waterways in whatever way they want, be that fishing, boating, paddleboarding, canoeing or just walking along the bank. All are pursuits that aid our health and wellbeing in a stress-free environment, which in the long run will save the NHS money with fewer people requiring mental health services. Not to mention the animals and beasties that make their home on the canal. If our canals become derelict, which they do very quickly, none of this will be possible.”
Spreading the word
In the meantime, please continue to use every possible means, including social media channels, to help raise awareness of #FundBritainsWaterways.
Lastly, would you help us get more signatures by sharing this petition with your contacts – family, friends, Facebook groups, Twitter, Instagram, email, SMS chats, WhatsApp,… The more people who sign, the more difficult it will be for us to be ignored!
THANK YOU for supporting this cause.