Navigation Committee

Sue O’Hare, IWA Deputy Chair and Chair of Navigation Committee, provides an update on the committee’s most recent developments, priorities and ongoing activities

Following the sad loss of Steve Warwicker in June 2022, I was honoured to be asked to take over as interim Chair of Navigation Committee. It is proving to be a busy, enjoyable and fulfilling role, with a great deal of work going on, and I thought it was time for an update.

First, we have refreshed the membership of the committee to make sure there is representation from each region and from Scotland. We have welcomed new regional representatives Iain Duncan (North East), Jonathan Mosse (Scotland), Andrew Strawson (South West & South Wales) and David Struckett (West Midlands), with a continuing vacancy for Eastern Region. Amy Tillson (IWA Campaigns Officer) and Paul Greenhalgh (volunteer) are now members and Jessal Murarji (IWA Honorary Consulting Engineer) has joined as a corresponding member. Alison Smedley continues as a committee member after stepping down from her IWA staff role in Jnauary 2023.

Trustees have confirmed the remit of the Navigation Committee and the committee has spent some time considering the areas to be prioritised. In line with the concerns expressed by many IWA members, we will be focusing in two main areas: waterway funding and waterway condition. The Canal & River Trust is very much in the spotlight at present pending the outcome of its Grant Review, but the Environment Agency and other navigation authorities face similar financial challenges. IWA provides the secretariat to the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Waterways and helped arrange the meeting on CRT funding on 2nd November 2022. This led to the Westminster Hall debate on the future of the waterways on 22nd November, which I was pleased to attend on behalf of IWA. The APPGW will next be turning its attention to Environment Agency waterways.

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that the condition of waterways is declining in terms of asset maintenance, vegetation management, dredging and water resources. To support a campaign, we are seeking to collect an evidence base, including data made available by navigation authorities and data collected independently by IWA.

In terms of relationships with navigation authorities, we have broadened our agenda to include the Broads Authority, the Middle Level Navigations and Scottish Canals. We have reinstated regular liaison meetings with the CRT National Boating Manager and the Environment Agency National Navigation Team. I am representing IWA on the new Environment Agency National Waterways Forum, with Verna Smith as my deputy. IWA continues to have representatives on the Stakeholder Engagement Groups for the Anglian Waterways (Chris Howes), the River Medway (Mike Marsh), the River Thames (Verna Smith) and the River Wye (Jonathan Mosse). This group of IWA representatives met for the first time in Decmber 2023 to share information and agree a common approach. IWA was recently consulted by the Broads Authority about appointments to its Navigation Committee. A meeting has been scheduled with the new Chair of the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities.

One of the Navigation Committee’s responsibilities is to provide support for branches and regions with local matters where specialist advice or a national perspective is needed. A good example was a recent approach by Lydney Yacht Club for support with the regeneration of Lydney Harbour. A second example was support to the North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch in its successful objection to a proposal by CRT to add ‘restrictors’ to the balance beams of the listed Hazelhurst Top Lock on the Caldon Canal. Other current matters include Bridgwater Docks, the River Great Ouse at St Ives, the North Walsham & Dilham Canal, the Tennant Canal and the tidal Trent.

Another Navigation Committee responsibility is to respond on behalf of IWA to relevant consultations. We are considering the consultations on the five draft best-value regional plans for water resource management in England and parts of Wales.

Ongoing activities include the oversight of relevant campaigns (community moorings, freight, HS2, sustainable boating) and the review and updating of policies. We are considering possible additions to the list of Silver Propeller Challenge locations for 2023. The most recently updated policy is the Policy on Moorings on Navigable Waterways, which is available with the other IWA external policies on the Library page of the IWA website.

Navigation Committee has a vital role and a broad scope and only IWA can do all this. If you would like to get involved, please do get in touch. You would be most welcome.