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:
- the importance of our inland waterways as a unique national asset and part of the national infrastructure is recognised;
- the deterioration in condition that is already happening is acknowledged; and
- 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.
