Waterways in Crisis: Government announces reduced funding for the Canal & River Trust

The current Government funding agreement for the Canal & River Trust ends in four year’s time. The current annual grant of £52.6 million a year represents about a quarter of the Trust’s income, the rest coming mainly from user licences, mooring charges, income from land holdings and charitable donations. As the grant is fixed and does not increase with inflation, it is already causing financial problems for the Trust and we are already seeing indications of spending restraints despite increases in volunteers taking on many roles.

On 10^th July the Government announced the funding for the next ten year period commencing in 2027. Although they accept that the Canal & River Trust has provided value for money since its takeover from the nationalised British Waterways in 2012 the Government states that the Trust should not need Government support and should seek other forms of funding. They have, therefore, said that the grant will be reduced to £50 million in 2027 and be cut by 5% each year after that. At the end of the period in 2037 the annual grant will have reduced to £31.5 million. In total this means that the Canal & River Trust will lose £320m. This comes as maintenance costs for ageing canal infrastructure – 200-year-old plus locks, aqueducts, reservoirs, embankments – is increasing due to climate change with more periods of drought and extreme storm events. Such a drastic decrease in funds will inevitably result in a decline in the overall condition of our waterway network, and, alarmingly, the possibility of canal closures. It puts at risk invaluable natural habitats, historic infrastructure and cherished public spaces.

The Trust believes that the substantial reduction in support will mean that maintenance will have to be cut back and there are likely to be canal closures. The Northern canals and navigations with their low number of boats and high maintenance costs are most at risk.  As it stands we are facing an existential threat to the Huddersfield Narrow Canal.

Please write to your local MP telling them how much you care about the canals and why they need to be funded properly. Urge the Government to reconsider their decision and protect our waterways for the future.

And how can you do it?

The best way is for you to email or mail your MP with your own thoughts. Personal representations are always best. Alternatively you can go to the Canal & River Trust website and follow the links here:

https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/donate/our-campaigns/keep-canals-alive

After the fantastic public reception on 2nd May 2022, the new electric Marsden e-Shuttle has been running regular trips between Marsden Station and the Standedge Visitor Centre.

Recently our boat took a musical sheep through Slaithwaite then up to Standedge as part of the Project HERD – Kirklees Year of Music 2023.

We’re retaining the original craft, now nicknamed the d-Shuttle, for the time being and indeed it was at the Stalybridge Festival in June and we are now running weekend trips in Uppermill until the end of July (assuming we get sufficient volunteers to crew the boat.

Please check our online trip calendar for dates when the boats are running.

In addition:

• The Maintenance team is continuing to work on east side vegetation clearance every Friday fortnight.

• It is some time since our last e-newsletter has been issued to members and another will be published soon. 

• The office is now unattended so the best way to contact us is by email. 

**  Best wishes to all our members, supporters and friends  **

The results of our 37th Quarterly Draw  are:

£72.00 1st Prize to Mrs Margaret Tylee
£36.00 2nd Prize to Tony Zajac

Congratulations to the prize winners!

(If you want to join in – details are in the Members’ Area.)