Fund Britain’s Waterways Welcomes Additional CRT Funding but Calls for Long-Term Investment
Published: 6 February 2026
The Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW) campaign has welcomed the Government’s announcement of an additional £6.5 million in funding for the Canal & River Trust (CRT), but warns that this falls far short of what is needed to protect the future of the nation’s waterways.
While the funding will support essential repairs, maintenance, and long-term projects, it represents only a small proportion of the existing annual grant and does not address the wider, systemic funding challenges facing the network.
Additional Funding – A Step Forward, But Not Enough
The £6.5 million investment equates to just 12% of the current £52.6 million annual grant provided to CRT — a figure already considered insufficient and due to reduce from April 2027.
Although the announcement is a positive signal, it does little to halt the ongoing decline of the waterways infrastructure, which continues to face mounting pressures.
Rising Costs and Increasing Pressures
The scale of the financial challenge is significant:
- Winter maintenance work during 2024/2025 exceeded £60 million
- Repairs to Toddbrook Reservoir alone are expected to cost nearly £50 million
- The Llangollen Canal breach at Whitchurch could cost several million pounds
- Bridge strikes cost over £1 million each year to repair
This is further illustrated by incidents such as the Llangollen Canal breach, where boats were left stranded due to infrastructure failure.
Image: Narrowboat stranded by the breach in the Llangollen Canal in Whitchurch, Shropshire (December 2025)
A Wider National Issue
The Canal & River Trust is not alone in facing these challenges. The Environment Agency’s waterways are also deteriorating due to ageing infrastructure, climate change impacts, and financial pressures.
There are currently five indefinite closures across the Anglian waterways, with no plans for reopening due to lack of funding.
This demonstrates that the issue is not isolated but affects waterways across the entire country.
Image: Environment Agency closure notice at Brandon Lock on the River Little Ouse (November 2025)
Government Action – Progress, But More Needed
FBW has been campaigning for over two and a half years for urgent action to secure the future of Britain’s inland waterways.
Recent funding announcements include:
- £500,000 from the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority for repairs to locks on the River Cam
- £6.5 million additional funding for the Canal & River Trust
These contributions are welcome, but they do not yet represent the long-term, sustainable investment required.
Call for a National Review
Fund Britain’s Waterways is calling on the Government to commit to a comprehensive national review of waterways funding.
The campaign argues that only sustained, predictable, long-term investment will ensure the survival and continued benefit of these vital national assets.
Hazel Owen, Chair of FBW, said:
“£6.5m of additional funding for CRT is good, but not good enough. FBW will continue to campaign for a sustainable level of funding for all waterways to ensure their survival for future generations. Everyone is agreed on the value of our waterways, but that must be translated into funding.”
About Fund Britain’s Waterways
Fund Britain’s Waterways brings together a wide range of organisations campaigning for increased government funding to prevent the decline of Britain’s inland waterways.
Established in June 2023, the campaign now represents over 160 member organisations and hundreds of thousands of waterways users and supporters.
Its mission is to raise awareness of the economic, environmental, and social value of waterways while securing the investment needed to protect them.
Image: FBW supporters on Westminster Bridge (May 2025)
Further Information
Further InformationFor more information about the campaign, visit:
www.fundbritainswaterways.org.uk
Or contact:
Sue O’Hare
Navigation Committee Chair, Inland Waterways Association
sue.ohare@waterways.org.uk
For higher resolution images, please contact info@fundbritainswaterways.org.uk
