Canal & River Trust News & Updates

13 February 2025

CANAL & RIVER TRUST CONTINUES TO ENGAGE WITH GOVERNMENT TO SECURE FUTURE OF UK WATERWAYS

As part of its work to secure the future of the historic canal network it cares for and keep the canal network safe, navigable and available for people, the Canal & River Trust is continuing to present its case to government to emphasise the vital role of the canal network in delivering key national priorities.

In its comprehensive submission to the government’s current Spending Review process, the charity is making the case for a contribution to its funding sufficient to ensure that its canals can continue to provide the significant economic, environmental, and social benefits it delivers into the future.

This follows the publication of the Trust’s 2024 Impact Report in December illustrating the wide range of positive outcomes the Trust delivers, and the submission of the Trust’s first Climate Change Adaptation report to Government last month demonstrating how the Trust’s ageing infrastructure is requiring substantial future investment to keep it open and safe.

The UK’s canals and associated infrastructure – including reservoirs, docks, and embankments – offer strategic opportunities to support issues of national importance, such as water security, flood protection, climate resilience, and economic growth. However, these assets face growing pressure from reduced funding, rising maintenance costs, and the increasing impact of extreme weather events. The Trust believes that a modest increase in government investment, to maintain its real terms funding, would unlock even greater benefits, ensuring the canal network remains resilient for generations to come.

At present the Trust receives around 22% of its funding from government and this is set to decline to around 10% by 2035, a loss of funding of around £300m in real terms over the next ten years.

Richard Parry, chief executive at Canal & River Trust, said: “Our canals and navigable rivers are an extraordinary national asset, supporting the economy, providing water security, supporting nature, protecting against flooding, and offering green and blue spaces that benefit millions of people. However, the pressures on this ageing infrastructure are growing and, without adequate investment, there is a real risk to the benefits they provide. As a charity we must raise funds through many different routes and part of this is by engaging with the government in a thoughtful and measured way, to show how targeted funding could help to future-proof these vital assets and ensure they continue to support communities, the environment, and the economy long into the future.”

3 March 2025

COMMISSION REVIEWING FUTURE FRAMEWORK FOR BOAT LICENSING LAUNCHES PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

The Commission which is reviewing the Canal & River Trust’s boat licensing framework has today, 3 March 2025, launched a survey to hear from boaters and other stakeholders with a view on boat licensing. 

The survey will run until 9am on Tuesday 22 April. It covers both the experiences that people have had and any changes they would like to see to the Trust’s approach to boat licensing.

It is anticipated that the Commission will make recommendations to the Trust’s Board of Trustees in September 2025. 

The Commission is being chaired by Andrew Cowan, a former senior partner at Devonshires, a law firm.  It also includes Penelope Barber, one of the elected boating representatives on the Trust’s Council, and trustee Sir Chris Kelly, a previous senior civil servant and former boat owner.

Andrew Cowan comments: “Over the past 30 years there have been significant changes in the use of the 2,000-mile canal network managed by the Canal & River Trust. We have been asked to review the framework around boat licensing and to explore whether it is appropriate for the network’s future.

“As part of the process we are keen to hear from boaters and other stakeholders with a view on boat licensing.  The responses will help us understand the views of different stakeholder groups and will be key to forming our thinking about the current licensing system and whether it can be improved."

More information on the Commission and its work can be found on the dedicated webpage on the Trust’s website. 

28 March 2025

EMERGENCY REPAIRS FOR LONGEST CANAL LOCK FLIGHT IN THE UK

The Canal & River Trust is undertaking urgent works to Tardebigge Top Lock on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, after investigations revealed that the 200-year-old lock wall is in need of restoration, to keep the longest flight of locks in the UK open and available for boats.

The charity, which cares for the nation’s historic 2,000-mile canal network, is stabilising the brick- lock wall. The lock is a heritage listed asset, and the works will be done with the utmost care; dismantling the minimum number of historic bricks. Once the necessary Listed Building Consent is in place, it will be expertly rebuilt reusing as many bricks as possible.

Engineers from the charity had hoped to carry out the heritage repairs alongside other planned maintenance work on the lock flight this winter. Unfortunately, thorough investigations show that the work can’t wait, and an extensive and costly repair is required immediately. The problem was initially highlighted by boaters who were having trouble navigating the lock. This type of feedback plays a valuable part in supporting the Trust’s rolling inspection programme.

The Trust is working closely with the Bromsgrove and Redditch Council conservation team to agree the scope of the restoration work. The Trust expects to invest over £500,000 in these necessary works.

The navigation will remain closed until the repair work is completed.  The Trust will provide regular updates on progress on its website. The exact timeline of the works will not be known until the wall has been dismantled and full investigations completed. Indicatively, the Trust expects the flight to remain closed until the end of August. Ascending the flight, the last winding hole is above Lock 23: boats will not be able to turn around beyond this point.,

The towpath will also be closed with a diversion in place using local footpaths.

Situated on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, Tardebigge is the longest lock flight in Britain, with 30 locks carrying narrowboats 220 feet uphill and downhill over two-and-a-quarter miles. The top lock is particularly deep because it was the site of an experimental vertical boat lift before it was replaced with a conventional lock. Opened in 1815, the canal was dug out by hand for the transportation of porcelain pots and Cadbury's chocolate, and is now popular with leisure boats, cutting into the heart of Birmingham at Gas Street Basin.

Henriette Breukelaar, West Midlands’ regional director at Canal & River Trust, said: “Tardebigge Locks is Britain’s longest lock flight. It is loved and much used by boaters and walkers alike. I appreciate that many people will be very disappointed that we have had to close the site during the summer months. Our charity will undertake the necessary works to a very high standard and in line with the heritage considerations of this Grade II-listed site. Please be assured that completing the works and reopening the canal and the towpath as soon as possible is our absolute priority.

“This illustrates some of the challenges we face in maintaining this amazing working heritage: a 2,000-mile network of canals that are open to the elements and vulnerable to a changing climate. We’re out every day working to keep the canals open for navigation and the thousands of centuries-old locks, bridges and tunnels safe and in good working order. All this comes at a cost, and we welcome people’s support, through donating, volunteering, or spreading the word about our charity, to help us keep canals alive for years to come.”

Local people are also being invited to get involved with caring for the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, including at Tardebigge. The Trust is looking for conservator volunteers to help the charity clear weeds, reeds and overgrown bushes along the region's towpaths and locks, making a huge difference whilst learning more about the canal. More information here: Conservation Volunteer (Worcester-Birmingham Vegetation Team) | Canal & River Trust Volunteering

To support Canal & River Trust, please visit: Support us | Canal & River Trust (canalrivertrust.org.uk)

1 April 2025

Dredging gets underway to remove toxic sediment from Walsall Canal

• Work commencing early this week to remove contaminated silt from the canal

• Dredging the canal is essential step before reopening the waterway to boats

• Charity has spent half a million pounds so far managing aftermath of pollution incident

This week marks a significant milestone in the recovery of the Walsall Canal, following a disastrous pollution incident in August 2024, when around 4,000 litres of contaminant, including highly toxic sodium cyanide and zinc cyanide, leaked into the canal. As a result, around one mile of the canal in the Pleck area of Walsall has had to remain closed for boats for the past eight months.

A major pollution incident was declared at the time and, while the towpath has since reopened, the canal has remained closed to boats and devoid of wildlife. The company identified as the source of the pollution is under investigation by the Environment Agency.

Now, waterways charity Canal & River Trust is overseeing dredging operations to remove cyanide-contaminated silt from the canal bed. This is a crucial step in the canal’s ecological recovery, required by the Environment Agency, and a major step towards reopening the waterway to boats.

The dredging is due to take several weeks, after which the sediment and water will be tested once again. The test results will determine if further steps are needed and when the canal can reopen.

Henriette Breukelaar, regional director, Canal & River Trust, said: “We’re delighted that dredging of the Walsall Canal starts this week; this is a major milestone in the canal’s recovery.

“The awful spillage of cyanide into the community’s wonderful and historic canal has left this section ecologically devastated, wiping out wildlife, including the microorganisms that form the foundation of the canal’s ecosystem.

“So far, we have spent around half a million pounds of charitable funds, covering costs such as staff time, dam installation, materials, contractors, and lab testing. This is a huge resource that has been diverted from other essential activity to keep the region’s canals open and safe.

“We are grateful for the support of our partners and the generosity of the public, particularly those who contributed to the Crowdfunder, which raised £25,000. This will help ensure the canal remains a vital part of the local community and, hopefully soon, can fully reopen.

“We understand the closure has been frustrating for boaters and the local community, and we hope the dredging will move us closer to reopening the canal. We will continue to provide updates. Our priority remains the safety and restoration of this important waterway, and we appreciate everyone’s patience while we carry out this critical work.”