Charlie Norman, IWA’s Campaigns & Public Affairs Director, outlined the Association’s campaigning priorities heading into 2027: continuing to develop IWA’s unique Risk Index as an evidence base for campaigning action, supporting local micro-campaigns such as the water supply to the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal and the re-opening of the Wendover Arm, along with delivering political impact through the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). 

Before the formal proceedings, presentations were delivered on restoration achievements and the new Restoration Panel, and the Sustainable Boating Group’s new Lithium Battery Installation Guide.  

AGM Business 

Members approved the minutes of the 2025 AGM, received an update on financial statements, and confirmed the reappointments of existing Trustees Peter Marlow and Paul Strudwick as well as welcoming six new Trustees: Alexander Barty, Tiffany Gale-Haynes, Christopher Knell, David Morgan, Matthew Rogers, and Jess Van der Drift. 

National Chair Mike Wills said “While IWA is 80 years old, it looks forward with pride and purpose. The diversity of ages, backgrounds, and the variety of experiences, offered by our new trustees will add a fresh perspective our approach. It is an exciting time to be part of IWA.” 

Recognising Excellence 

The AGM also hosted the presentation of the IWA/Towpath Talk Sustainable Boating Awards and IWA National Awards. 

IWA/Towpath Talk Sustainable Boating Awards 2026 

Non-Commercial Award: Fulham Reach Boat Club – or undertaking a range of environmental and sustainability initiatives including introducing electrically propelled coaching and safety boats, running a water quality testing programme and organising river clean-ups. 

Commercial Award: Landamores Ltd – For being the leading constructors, converters and maintainers of electric boats on the Broads for some years and introducing sustainable propulsion and other innovations into a very traditional boat building market. 

Highly Commended: Circular Revolution Co-Op: For pioneering the collection and disposal of solid waste from separator toilets on boats. 

IWA National Awards 

Richard Bird Medals: Tony Clarke, George Rogers, Andrew Shepherd, Debbie Shepherd 

Christopher Power Prize: David Carter 

Branch Achievement Award: IWA South Wales Branch 

John Heap Salver: Bob Williams 

Cyril Styring Trophy: Paul Waddington 

CLICK FOR FULL AWARD DETAILS

“These individuals and groups exemplify the knowledge and dedication that keep our waterways alive,” said Wills. 

Attendees also enjoyed an afternoon visit to Diglis Island to learn about the history of this man-made island in the River Severn, the impact of the river’s industrial use on wildlife, and the work being undertaken to restore river connectivity for migrating fish. 

IWA extends its thanks to everyone who joined this year’s AGM and to the volunteers who made the event a success. 

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The results of the awards are as follows:

Sustainable Boating Awards:

NON-COMMERCIAL AWARD 2026

Awarded to the individual, charity or community organisation that, in the opinion of the judges, has made the most valuable contribution to sustainable boating during the last twelve months.  

Fulham Reach Boat Club

For undertaking a range of environmental and sustainability initiatives including introducing electrically propelled coaching and safety boats, running a water quality testing programme and organising river clean-ups.

COMMERCIAL AWARD 2026

Awarded to the business that, in the opinion of the judges, has made the most valuable contribution to sustainable boating during the last twelve months. 

Landamores Ltd 

For being the leading constructors, converters and maintainers of electric boats on the Broads for some years and introducing sustainable propulsion and other innovations into a very traditional boat building market. v

[Details of the Awards are at https://waterways.org.uk/campaigns/sustainable-boating#award]

HIGHLY COMMENDED:

Circular Revolution Co-Op: For pioneering the collection and disposal of solid waste from separator toilets on boats. 

IWA NATIONAL AWARDS

RICHARD BIRD MEDALS 

For members of the Association whose efforts and support are considered to have brought significant benefit to the Association over a sustained period. 

•             Tony Clarke

Tony has been a dedicated Northampton Branch Committee member for many years and, for more than 15 years, has been the Editor of its quarterly magazine, Endeavour, keeping members informed, connected and engaged, while making a valuable contribution to the Branch.

•            George Rogers 

George has spent much of his life around canals and restoration. A civil and structural design engineer by training, he is Development Manager for the Chesterfield Canal Trust.

His contribution as a volunteer is equally impressive. George has led, cooked or volunteered on more than 60 WRG week-long camps and festivals and is currently a WRG Director. He has also been a Trustee of the Friends of the Cromford Canal, where he established and chaired its Strategic Restoration Committee, as well as serving as work party organiser and webmaster.

Within IWA, George became the inaugural Chair of the Restoration Delivery Group. He brings together professional expertise, practical experience and strategic thinking to help shape the Association’s restoration work.

From getting his hands dirty on WRG camps to helping deliver multi-million-pound restoration projects, George has made an outstanding contribution to the waterways over many years.

•            Debbie and Andrew Shepherd

Andrew and Debbie are being recognised for around 20 years of commitment to IWA activities in Leicestershire, including around 10 years as the Branch’s key officers.

Their determination and enthusiasm have been instrumental in keeping the Branch active and maintaining IWA’s presence in the area. They have organised and supported countless activities, with a particular highlight being the hugely successful Harborough ’75 event, which simply would not have happened without them.

They have also worked tirelessly to secure the completion of the Memory Lane Wharf visitor moorings and boater facilities, working with Canal & River Trust and Leicester City Council.

CHRISTOPHER POWER PRIZE

For a person, society or trust who has made the most significant contribution to the restoration of an inland waterway.  

There is a cash prize associated with this award, which is given to the waterway restoration group associated with the winner, where the winner is a named individual.  The aims and objectives of the group must be consistent with IWA’s aims and objectives.  The trophy is a carved wooden otter.

David Carter – Shropshire Union Canal Society

David Carter, Chairman of the Shropshire Union Canal Society, has made a major contribution to the restoration of the Montgomeryshire Canal over many years.

For at least nine years, David organised the restoration work parties on the ‘Mont’, helping to bring a long section of the canal back into use as far as Crickheath Basin.

Working with volunteer labour and funding from a Heritage Lottery grant, David led a team through an ambitious programme of practical restoration. He organised regular work parties and everything needed to make them happen, from materials and plant to volunteers and safety arrangements, including navigating the additional challenges of working during the Covid pandemic.

The result was a remarkable volunteer-led restoration effort that saw sections of canal reappear where they had effectively disappeared into farmland.

David continues to lead the Society’s enhancement team, helping to maintain and improve the canal around Ellesmere. As Chairman, he also supports volunteers, works with CRT, councils and landowners, and takes on the many less visible jobs that keep the Society moving.

BRANCH ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

For the IWA Branch which, in the opinion of a panel consisting of the National Chair, Deputy National Chairs and Chief Executive, has made the greatest progress and achievement in promoting the Association’s aims and objectives during the past year. All Branches are considered, without need for nomination. The award consists of a silver salver, donated to IWA by former National Chair David Stevenson for the purpose in 1998. 

South Wales Branch 

The Branch Achievement Award this year goes to the South Wales Branch, and in particular we wish to recognise the leadership, dedication and energy of Paul Thomas for his efforts in raising the profile of the Mon & Brec. Previous to Paul, Tony Pugh and Joe Taplin contributed substantially to the work and profile of the branch.

Recently, the branch has been at the forefront of the campaign as a key member of the Preserve & Protect the Mon & Brec Canal (PPMB) coalition.

It was pivotal in supporting a highly successful Petition that gained over 14,000 signatures and in organising the Senedd Rally in July 2025, which preceded the debate that saw overwhelming cross-party support for action.

Campaigners rallied outside the Senedd on the day the petition debate was held, gaining attention from the press and Senedd members. 

Following the rally and debate, the Welsh Government announced the creation of the Task & Finish Group on 17th July 2025.

As mentioned in the Campaigns update, the Welsh Government then agreed a financial settlement of up to £400,000 every year, for the next five years to resolve the water abstraction crisis that threatened the future of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal.

The leadership and hard work of Paul, and the whole branch, generated a campaign win that benefited IWA both locally and nationally.

JOHN HEAP SALVER

For an IWA member who, in the opinion of the trustees, has made an outstanding contribution to support the waterways. The trophy, a silver salver, was provided by then IWA trustee John Heap (who subsequently became national chairman) and first presented at the Association’s National Rally at Marple on the Peak Forest Canal.   

Bob Williams

Bob Williams is being recognised for his outstanding and sustained contribution to the restoration of the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals and for his long-standing responsibility for the financial affairs of the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust. 

As a vital and committed member of the Trust’s committee for many years, Bob has played a key role in managing its finances and supporting the fundraising that has enabled its restoration work to continue. His dedication extends well beyond his formal responsibilities. Bob has consistently supported events and restoration activities, regularly being present on site and providing encouragement and practical support to volunteers. 

A familiar and much-valued presence within the restoration community, Bob’s commitment over many years has helped sustain the Trust’s work and the wider effort to restore the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals.

CYRIL STYRING TROPHY 

This is the Association’s premier award. For an IWA member who has, in the opinion of trustees, made an outstanding contribution in furthering the Association’s campaign.   

Paul Waddington

Paul joined IWA in December 1982 and has been a dedicated waterways campaigner for more than 43 years. His involvement began with the Yorkshire Derwent campaign in the 1980s, including taking part in work parties.

But Paul’s greatest contribution has been to the Pocklington Canal. He served as Chair of the Pocklington Canal Amenity Society for an extraordinary 38 years, stepping down only earlier this year.

During that time, he masterminded much of the canal’s restoration, including the renovation of three locks, while building a strong and active canal society. Just as importantly, he ensured that the Society remained one of IWA’s most loyal and effective supporters of national campaigns.

Paul’s contribution therefore extends well beyond one canal. For more than four decades, he has worked tirelessly to restore and protect our waterways and to strengthen IWA’s campaigning work at both local and national level.

IWA is incredibly proud to recognise these champions for their vital contributions to our waterways. 

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Wolverton and Milton Keynes boast a unique canal and rail heritage. Canal workers moved to the area in the 19th century, and the canal helped bring the railway to Wolverton, with the arrival of the railway bringing employment and major changes to the town. 

David Wolfson, Chair of MK Canals, gave talks explaining how these two major industries developed and eventually came to exist side by side as Wolverton grew from a canal village into a railway town. 

David said:  

“We were delighted to run this exciting festival on such a unique historic site. We wanted to bring together the shared story and importance of the canal and the railway. Working with leading community organisations from Wolverton and Milton Keynes alongside IWA, CRT and the Accessible Waterways Association, we want to make Milton Keynes’ canals better known, better used, and improved for the future.” 

While celebrating this heritage, the festival also looked towards the changing needs and uses of the canal in the 21st century, with a growing focus on the use of the waterway system to support emerging climate needs and making the waterways accessible to everyone. 

In June this year, a pioneering bollard scheme was installed in Wolverton, creating the first public accessible mooring site of its kind. The scheme to make mooring easier was delivered by MK Canals, working closely with Birmingham City University, the Accessible Waterways Association and Canal & River Trust. 

Commenting on the pilot scheme, Tracey Clarke, Director at Accessible Waterways Association, an organisation led and run by people with lived experience who are motivated to make our inland waterways more accessible, said: 

“We are proud to have been involved from the outset of the development of these bollards. The heritage is fantastic, but it has to work in tandem with modern needs. These bollards offer something for everybody, from disabled people to someone with a temporary condition. From making it easier for boaters to moor up to providing a perch for a passing walker, this initiative will hopefully prove to make a real and positive difference.” 

In further, forward-facing canal innovation, a new electric bollard providing canalside utility hook-up point was installed along the Wolverton canal, providing power and water utilities specifically supporting the Electra, an all-electric community trip boat. This was installed with invaluable help from IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group. 

Chris Curtis, MP for Milton Keynes North, said: 

“It was a pleasure to come along to this event and see people celebrating our heritage, keen to learn about our waterway history and just having a good day. The new accessible mooring is an important example of how Wolverton’s waterways can continue to evolve so that everyone can enjoy the canal and the opportunities it provides.” 

The Canal & Rail Festival is planned as the first of an annual event, building on Wolverton’s rich heritage while celebrating the canal as a vibrant part of the town’s present and future. With its combination of history, heritage, community, entertainment and innovation, organisers hope the festival will continue to grow and become a regular highlight of Wolverton’s calendar. 

The successful first festival provided an opportunity to celebrate where Wolverton has come from, while looking ahead to what its canal and railway heritage can offer future generations. 

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IWA’s submission sets out five priority recommendations which offer the Treasury low-cost, high-return opportunities to support the Government’s stated priorities of regional growth, devolution, and economic and climate resilience.

Summary of IWA’s 5 Budget recommendations

• Devolve waterway powers and funding flexibility to Metro Mayors, enabling waterway-led regional renewal;
• Commission a cross-departmental review of England and Wales’s inland waterways, producing a long-term investment plan by 2028;
• Establish a national waterborne freight strategy, including expansion of the Modal Shift Revenue Support grant and affordable sustainable fuel¹;
• Fund the repair and resilience of canal reservoirs and feeder channels, protecting tourism revenue and building wildfire-response capacity; and
• Invest in the cultural and recreational heritage of waterways to benefit local economies and widen participation.

Charlie Norman, IWA’s Director of Campaigns and Public Affairs, said:

“Britain’s waterways are already delivering huge value along economic, environmental, and social lines, but chronic under-investment and fragmented decision-making hold them back. Giving Mayors the power to make waterways part of their regional growth strategies would unlock so much untapped potential.

“Modest and targeted intervention now will protect existing economic activity and allow waterways to contribute much more to the Government’s stated priorities for regional growth, devolution and economic and climate resilience.”

The representation from IWA (sent Tuesday, 9th September) comes ahead of the Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026.

¹ See also submission from the IWA Sustainable Boating Group

View our full Budget Representation.

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The Trust recently welcomed the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor Kulwinder Singh Johal, aboard Halseyon Days, its wheelchair-accessible narrowboat. The trip was delivered in partnership with Canal & River Trust and gave the Lord Mayor an opportunity to meet passengers, experience the benefits of being on the water and even try his hand at steering.

Baldwin Trust is a delivery partner in ‘Restoring the Soar’, a National Lottery Heritage Funded project led by Leicester City Council in partnership with Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust and Canal & River Trust. The project aims to restore the River Soar while encouraging local communities to connect with and care for their waterways.

The Trust’s accessible boat trips are helping to make those waterways available to more people, particularly those living with disabilities, mental illness, social exclusion or isolation.

Richard Jayes, Acting Chair and Trustee of Baldwin Trust, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Canal & River Trust to bring the experience of narrowboats to more people. Having the Lord Mayor with us to share the day has been superb.”

The July trips were part of a wider programme of activity designed to build community engagement with the River Soar and support wellbeing through access to the waterways.

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The Installing Lithium Batteries for Domestic Power on Pleasure Craft guide has been produced jointly by IWA’s Sustainable Boating Group and the CA’s Regulatory & Technical Services Group. It explains the complexities of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄ or LFP) battery systems and sets out current good practice, providing a practical checklist for boat owners.

Unlike a traditional lead-acid battery, an LFP battery cannot simply be dropped into an existing electrical system. The battery, charging equipment, protection systems and wider installation all need to work together safely.

Bowman Bradley, Chair of IWA’s Sustainable Boating Group, said:

“ Even before installing Lithium batteries, canal boat electrical systems are becoming increasingly complex. Lithium batteries bring a new set of risks, but these can be managed safely, as we manage other risks on boats such as gas and fuel systems.

“This does require the whole system to be considered, not just to drop in a replacement battery. Unfortunately, standards, training and the industry itself are only just starting to catch up with this technology.

“This new guide is an important step forward in advising the ordinary boater about what to look out for to improve the safety and quality of their lithium battery system, whether DIY or professionally installed.”

IWA’s Sustainable Boating Group has been working with the CA to develop practical information that reflects the current state of the technology, while recognising that standards and industry practice are still developing. The original aim was to provide guidance for boaters installing their own LFP systems for domestic or ‘house’ electrical loads. However, the organisations concluded that the understanding of LFP installation is not yet sufficiently mature to provide definitive instructions for amateur installation.

Instead, the guide helps boaters understand the system as a whole and provides questions to ask when specifying, installing, commissioning and maintaining an LFP system. As battery technology develops and more boaters consider alternatives to traditional power systems, having clear and impartial information will become increasingly important. The guide provides a starting point for understanding the technology and making informed choices, whether working with a professional installer or assessing what an installation might involve.

IWA and the CA do not recommend self-installation for the vast majority of boat owners. Anyone considering a switch to LFP batteries should read the guidance before purchasing equipment or starting work, and use its checklist to help inform discussions with a suitably experienced professional.

Download the IWA and CA guide to Installing Lithium Batteries for Domestic Power on Pleasure Craft.

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The Restoration Delivery Plan is intended to set out how the Trust will work with restoration promoters and other partners to deliver the restoration of waterways across England and Wales. As a critical friend to CRT, IWA has engaged constructively with the Trust’s senior management to ensure that restoration receives the support and strategic priority it deserves. 

Through detailed engagement with the Plan, IWA has helped move the document towards a more positive, practical and delivery-focused one that better reflects the ambitions expected of a major national charity. The discussions have also led to improvements in CRT’s internal restoration processes and a better mutual understanding of how restoration activity should be managed across the Trust’s network.  This, however, needs to be matched by restoration groups becoming increasingly professional when undertaking construction work, both onsite and with design and Health & Safety paperwork. 

IWA believes this revised approach should act as a catalyst for raising standards across the restoration movement. Through its technical expertise its recently formed Restoration Delivery Group, new Restoration Panel and Waterway Recovery Group, IWA is well placed to provide the guidance and practical assistance that restoration organisations need to deliver successful projects. 

Waterway restoration is one of IWA’s strategic priorities for 2026, and the Association will continue working with CRT, restoration promoters and other parties to help build a stronger, more professional and more successful restoration sector. 

George Rogers, Chair of IWA’s Restoration Delivery Group, said: 

“The publication of the revised Restoration Delivery Plan is a significant step in the right direction. IWA has worked constructively with Canal & River Trust to strengthen both the Plan itself and the processes that support it, and we are pleased that this engagement has resulted in meaningful improvements. 

“We will continue to engage positively with the Trust and the wider restoration community to support the successful delivery of these shared objectives.”

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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.

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IWA’s Waterway Risk Index, launched in November 2025, initially recorded 15 indefinite stoppages across the network. This new assessment identifies 21 indefinite stoppages, defined as a closure that has been in place for more than 30 days without a published reopening date, excluding planned maintenance works. 

The findings show emerging trends in long-term interruptions to navigation across Britain’s 5,000 miles of navigable canals and rivers and comes against a backdrop of mounting pressures on the inland waterways network, including ageing infrastructure, under-investment, flooding, drought, and the increasing impacts of climate change. 

Key findings 

• The number of indefinite stoppages has increased from 15 to 21 since November 2025, a rise of 40%. 

• The East of England and North West England appear to be among the regions most prone to network interruptions. 

• Some closures have remained unresolved for many years, with Welches Dam remaining closed to navigation since 2004. 

Britain’s waterways provide significant public benefits to millions of people, supporting recreation, tourism, nature recovery and local economies. The network also supports more than 300,000 jobs through associated marine, tourism and leisure activity. 

However, these benefits depend on waterways remaining open and connected. With additional data now gathered, IWA says early patterns are beginning to emerge, with the East of England and North West among the areas showing higher levels of disruption. 

IWA is calling for transparency around closures from navigation authorities who should publish clear reopening plans wherever possible and provide regular updates on progress towards restoring navigation. 

While many stoppages are due to unavoidable circumstances such as extreme weather events or infrastructure failures, prolonged closures can have significant consequences for navigation, tourism and local businesses. 

The latest findings build upon IWA’s wider research into risks facing Britain’s inland waterways. In November 2025, IWA published the first national assessment combining climate risk, including drought and flooding, as well as financial resilience across the network. It found that most waterways face increasing exposure to heavier winter rainfall and drought conditions, while many navigation authorities are operating under significant financial pressure. 

Taken together, campaigners argue that infrastructure challenges, climate impacts and under-investment increase the risk of further interruptions unless investment and maintenance are prioritised. 

Lord German, Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Waterways, said: 

“Canals are green corridors for nature, reconnecting habitats and providing enormous benefits for our health and well-being, but closures threaten all of this. 

“My beloved local canal is the Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canal, which is often affected by low water levels. These closures impact a wide range of local businesses, so this is timely work from IWA.” 

Charlie Norman, IWA’s Director of Campaigns and Public Affairs, said: 

“We have been monitoring all risks to the network since late last year and have identified an upward trend in indefinite stoppages. 

“We cannot allow a policy of failing to repair waterways infrastructure as it becomes inoperable. Often, stoppages are unavoidable and understandable, but we are doing this work to spot trends and pressure authorities to act swiftly. 

“Our waterways only work properly when they operate as a connected network. Nobody else is undertaking this type of national monitoring and the Risk Index gives us a baseline from which to measure future changes. 

“We want our waterways to thrive for us today as well as for future generations. Neglect and under-investment are avoidable, and our Risk Index helps us keep ahead of both.” 

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Do you know somewhere near you that could host the event? We will consider any suggestion virtually and then follow up with a location visit with a view to asking the landowner for permission to start considering any suitable sites we can identify.

There are several key main elements that are necessary to consider a site as a possible venue:

• Firstly, land size. We are looking for a site that is about equal to 3 full size football pitches. This is for the trade site, campsite and car park. Ideally the campsite will need to be adjacent, or very near the trade site, and the same for the car park. The land should be as flat as possible and be alongside a waterway. The trade site area must be together, and not in small pockets.
• The waterway alongside must be able to accommodate up to 100 visiting boats, preferably double moored. Ideally the towpath will be on the same side as the site.
• If there is a section of good flat bank that can accommodate floating traders, that would be an advantage. The waterways must be connected to the main network. We have had events on rivers as well as canals.
• Access onto the land must be good enough for caravans, trailers and suppliers’ vehicles. It should be noted that vehicles can be up to 7.5 tonnes for suppliers.
• There needs to be a water supply nearby. A fire hydrant is acceptable, as we obtain permissions to use this type of supply.
• The nearer to a town the event is, the larger the projected attendance. Past events for example have been close to St Neots High Street, Northampton city centre and Ilkeston town centre. All of these enjoyed large attendance.
• The Festival of Water also seeks to campaign on local issues; if, for example, the waterway is underused, has navigational problems or even a has a restoration nearby, we will use the event to draw attention to the waterway’s needs and challenges.

While there are a few boxes to check, we hope that by asking members we can identify new sites to hold this popular event and bring it back better than ever in 2027.

If you know of anywhere that might be able to hold an event for a Festival of Water or a campaign rally, please directly contact Maria Hearnden who will be delighted to hear from you: maria.hearnden@waterways.org.uk.

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