What Our Supporters Say
Voices from across Britain backing the case for urgent investment in canals and rivers.
Support for Fund Britain’s Waterways
Fund Britain’s Waterways enjoys wide support from across public life, business, heritage, campaigning and the waterways community.
- Well-known figures, environmentalists, historians, campaigners and sector leaders have backed the campaign
- Supporters highlight the economic, environmental, heritage and wellbeing value of canals and rivers
- They are united in calling for government to act before further decline puts Britain’s waterways at greater risk
Together, these voices help demonstrate that inland waterways are nationally important assets that deserve long-term protection and proper investment.
“The UK’s 5,000 miles of canals and rivers create incredible blue-green corridors that millions of people enjoy. They support domestic tourism, help create jobs and bring real economic benefits to local communities. They also play a big role in improving people’s health and wellbeing – an experience I’ve enjoyed time and again on my own travels. For the sake of our economy, our environment and our communities, this is a national asset we simply can’t afford to lose.”
Dame Susan Langley, Lady Mayor of the City of London
“Hurrah for the canal restorers, then. And now, the bad news. Astonishingly, every bit of their work is in jeopardy again… Unless we act, the canal network will begin to shut down once more, and for good, in the next decade. It isn’t a sudden decline; successive governments have reduced funding for the canals… Decay happens much more quickly than recovery.”
“The next decade may be the most vital yet, in the history of the canals.”
Jo Bell, inaugural Canal Laureate
“Our rivers and waterways are the essential lifeblood to Great Britain. If we abuse or neglect or poison, block or ignore, pollute, damage over-exploit, drain, choke or infect our natural water supplies, then the health of the entire nation is at risk. As a treasured public asset, the government must help to keep them running, clean and beautiful.”
Griff Rhys Jones OBE
“Funding Britain’s Waterways is one of the most important investments our nation can make. They are the arteries which link our country together in a magnificent fusion of industry, potential and pleasure.”
“There is no other national asset so perfectly designed to enable citizens to enjoy Britain’s beautiful countryside and be inspired by past generations to help address today’s social and environmental challenges.”
Sir Tim Smit KBE, Founder of the Eden Project
“The navigable waterways network is an unparalleled national heritage asset, dating from Georgian times onwards. It is not just for the boating community but the public at large: it is an interconnected leisure and wellbeing resource whose benefits are felt across society and across the country from dense urban to remote rural areas.”
“Defend, fund, use and celebrate our waterways!”
Hugh Pearman MBE, Chair of the Twentieth Century Society
“Government and other funders need to realise that the obvious and visible signs of deterioration, along with the hidden damage accruing from underinvestment, will only get worse.”
“It is reprehensible to allow such valuable social and public assets to start to fail.”
Mike Wills, National Chair, the Inland Waterways Association
“Britain’s waterways are a unique national asset, attracting people from far and wide, and supporting business activity up and down the country.”
“All this will be at risk if Britain’s waterways are left to decline. This is why the new government must intervene, to safeguard this national asset and ensure navigation authorities have adequate resources to keep the navigation channels open and the infrastructure safely maintained.”
Lesley Robinson, Chief Executive of British Marine
“Our rivers, streams and canals are a critical part of our environment. We depend on them for drinking water, recreation, navigation and wellbeing as well as part of flood prevention, supporting industry and agriculture. We must protect and enhance them for future generations.”
Professor Martin Bigg, Master of the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators
“I would urge all Parliamentarians and aspiring Parliamentarians to get behind this campaign. Unless we safeguard the future of our waterways we will reach a tipping point where a huge range of public benefits from jobs to environment, leisure and tourism, health and wellbeing will be lost, and it will be extremely expensive to reinstate them.”
Rt Hon Sir Robert Atkins, former Minister for the Waterways
“This campaign cruise illustrates the passion and concern people have for the future of our amazing network of inland waterways. It highlights the importance of safeguarding the network for future generations to enjoy whilst also helping bring economic prosperity to local communities.”
Wendy Morton MP
“Our canals and rivers and their associated towpaths and historic bridges, reservoirs, aqueducts and tunnels and other infrastructure all play an important part in the lives of millions of Britons. It is vital that we keep this 250 year old heritage alive and maintained for the benefit of future generations.”
Sir Michael Fabricant, former MP for Lichfield
“Britain’s waterways are amongst our country’s most cherished assets, providing limitless opportunities to get afloat. Our rivers and canals can be an oasis of calm amongst a busy urban backdrop, allowing local people a chance for mindfulness and reconnection.”
Sara Sutcliffe MBE, Chief Executive, Royal Yachting Association
“Many of our members take advantage of the reciprocal moorings offered in other regions away from their home base. At our regular meetings we receive reports from all our regions that failures of the inland waterways infrastructure in general are severely impacting the ability of our members to cruise the waterways as they would wish to do.”
“We must endeavour to gain sufficient funding to keep all our waterways alive for future generations.”
Hazel Owen, Chair of the Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs
“The National Association of Boat Owners is an organisation that listens, represents and speaks out on behalf of boat owners… There is an overall impression that many of the UK’s waterways are gradually deteriorating and that ‘something must be done’ before they reach a tipping point.”
“Adequate government funding has to be the foundation stone that the upkeep and future of our navigations must be built on.”
Anne Husar, Chair of the National Association of Boat Owners
“Climate change is bringing with it not just warmer temperatures, but also more extremes of rainfall bringing at different times both floods and droughts. Our rivers and canals and the biodiversity they support are affected by this.”
“We need to adapt to these changing conditions, including by maintaining water levels and improving their ecological condition to build resilience.”
Professor Mike Morecroft, Lead Author, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
“Moving freight on the UK’s rivers and wide canals can be cost effective, and deliver significant environmental and socioeconomic benefits, but developing this form of transport faces huge challenges which are rooted in government intransigence, disinterest, and chronic under funding.”
John Spencer, CEO of GPS Marine Holdings Ltd
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