2 minute read
Welcome
Much has changed since I last wrote for Waterways as National Chair in 2017. But equally many things stay the same, not least the importance of ensuring our waterways are adequately funded. Just before I wrote this, the Government announced that the outcome of its review into possible CRT funding a er 2027, due by 1st July, had been deferred to the autumn. The stated purpose of this review is “to consider whether, and if so, the extent to which there is a case to continue grant support of the public benefi ts provided by the waterways under the Canal & River Trust’s stewardship”. As an impassioned waterways supporter I fi nd the answer to those questions incredibly easy, as I’m sure all IWA members do.
Any doubt about the need for public funding of the benefi ts of the waterways was surely resolved by the pandemic. Millions of people took to the waterways to exercise, enjoy the wildlife and the natural beau . IWA has always believed in ‘Waterways for All’ and the pandemic proved many times over how much the public benefi ts. Boating is an important part of our inland waterways with boats being the a raction for many visitors to the rivers and canals. I have been boating for the last two weeks and have never seen so many people on the towpaths.
The delay to the review extends the period of uncertain , but it does give more time to make the case. IWA is working to support CRT’s argument that continued public funding of our waterways at a higher level is essential, to ensure they survive and meet current safe standards. We have seen major incidents resulting om extreme weather events, like the damage to Toddbrook Reservoir. Such events are likely to become more equent, adding substantially to the increasing cost of routine maintenance work.
At the same time, navigation authorities need to spend their money both wisely and e ciently. While, inevitably, some stoppages will be long term, other simpler ones are not being resolved quickly enough. IWA will continue to question navigation authorities on why this is now the case and encourage them to do much be er.
I have been boating since 1971 and have seen the waterways in many di erent states. The current trend is undoubtedly downwards and this urgently needs to be reversed. Government and navigation authorities have a role to play in making the best use of the limited resources available. IWA will be working hard to ensure this happens.
Enjoy your summer on the waterways. IWA has been working to restore and protect our inland waterways for over 75 years. There is a real and urgent need for IWA. Our CEO Jonathan Smith describes our work in more detail elsewhere in this edition.
Both IWA and our inland waterways rely on the hard work of volunteers. Please support them in every way you can, by helping to spread the waterways message, by helping us to fi nance our work, or by becoming a volunteer.
