The Inland Waterways Association (IWA), the only independent, national charity campaigning for Britain’s canals and rivers, is pleased to play a full role in the new Fund Britain’s Waterways Action Group (FBW).

IWA is deeply concerned about the threat to our waterways posed by funding cuts, and launched a major campaign ‘Protect Our Waterways’ in March 2023. Through this campaign IWA is calling on national and local government to fund all waterways at a level that keeps them as major assets that can continue to contribute to the economy, peoples’ health, and wellbeing, and coping with the climate crisis.

The waterways of today would not exist without IWA who, over many years ensured that they were saved and enhanced. Millions of hours of volunteer time and effort along with lottery funding have been invested in revitalising the waterway network. IWA will not let the network fall into disrepair again.

Together with the National Association of Boat Owners (NABO), IWA initiated a meeting in early May of waterways organisations to discuss the threats to our waterways caused by a level of government funding which was already inadequate and appeared likely to be cut even further. The organisations present all agreed on the need for joint action to influence national and local government, through a new campaigning group “Fund Britain’s Waterways”.

IWA is giving its full support to FBW and is providing the secretariat and administrative functions. IWA National Chair Les Etheridge is chairing the steering group, which comprises representatives of the Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs, British Marine, IWA, NABO and the Royal Yachting Association. FBW already represents hundreds of thousands of users and supporters of inland waterways, and membership will be broadened to include any organisation or individual with an interest in using or supporting inland waterways whether canal, river, tidal river or estuary. Plans are being made for high-profile campaign cruises and other activities, starting with a campaign cruise in Birmingham over the weekend of 12-13 August 2023.

IWA’s CEO Sarah Niblock said: “Regrettably the government appears not to appreciate the case for maintaining our waterways properly, and it is the job of FBW to make sure that case is clearly heard and acted upon.

“It is heartening to see the waterways family coming together in their desire to take concerted action.”