Navigation Committee update

The Navigation Committee’s first meeting of 2023 in February had a busy agenda and this was followed on March 25 with our first live meeting for a long time, at the Roundhouse Birmingham. Our face-to face meeting included an excellent heritage walk, guided by Ivor Caplan.

Major points on the agendas included the recent liaison meeting with CRT’s National Boating Manager and the first meeting of the IWA representatives on the various Environment Agency (EA) stakeholder groups. We also reported on a useful meeting with the new Chair of the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities and look forward to working closely with AINA in areas including sustainable boating and residential boating.

Topics discussed with CRT included waterway condition data, dredging, volunteering opportunities in reservoir maintenance, plans for water transfer projects, provision of electric hook-ups, and the sale of Northwich Yard. We put forward a proposal to extend the current Gold Licence covering CRT and EA waterways to include the Middle Level Navigations. On the River Trent, we expressed concern about a proposed move to online-only booking for locks. We also supported the Trentlink group’s request for the reopening of the Stainforth & Keadby Canal, which provides the ‘safe’ route between the tidal Trent and the North-East waterways avoiding the Humber Estuary. The canal had been closed since November 2022 following a bridge strike but shortly after our meeting, it was re-opened to boats pending permanent repair.

CRT reported the results of the first phase of its consultation on customer service facilities. Its proposal was based on IWA’s Policy on the Provision of Boaters’ Facilities and responses showed broad agreement. CRT also explained that a consultation on a 10-year pricing framework for licence fees was to take place in response to the financial pressures it faces. At the March meeting, the committee finalised its response to this consultation by confirming its policy that boats with a licence issued on a continuous cruising basis should not be charged more for this and noting our concerns that further increases could drive boaters off the waterways. Our response will also emphasise the major financial contribution from boating and the importance of the government grant in enabling the wider public benefits of the waterways.

On EA waters the situation in each of the local areas is very different but there are common themes including the lack of sustainable and predictable funding, the minor role of navigation within EA, the complexity of the EA organisation and resulting difficult communications, lack of reliable and publicly available data on assets and their condition, and pollution and its impact on navigation as well as the environment.

The most concerning outcome from our CRT discussions was data supporting IWA’s contention that the condition of its waterways has been declining in recent years. This is especially ominous in view of the continuing uncertainty over the future government grant. IWA’s major campaign, Protect Our Waterways, is focused on proper funding for all waterways and the Navigation Committee will be fully supporting it. Initial discussion took place at the March meeting on how we can record and communicate the declining condition of waterways and therefore the need for long-term sustained funding.

While CRT may be in the spotlight at present, the problems of inadequate waterway funding are much wider. The latest

EA Navigation update states that the financial settlement for 2022-2023 onwards was less than half the funding requested, for both revenue and capital. Scottish Canals needs £75m to catch up with current outstanding maintenance.

Two major consultations are running in the area of water resources: one on draft best-value regional plans for five (largely English) regions, and one on management plans for individual water companies. Amy Tillson submitted IWA’s national response to these consultations to complement responses from regions. We are also registering IWA’s interest in the River Thames Scheme, a major new scheme in Surrey with the aims of improving flood protection and the environment, but also with possible implications for navigation.

Two particular areas of the Navigation Committee’s remit were progressed at the late March meeting. Firstly, waterways freight which has always been fundamental to IWA thinking. Under a new chairmanship of this group, it was confirmed that our support would continue for ongoing freight initiatives which often struggle to get established and maintain viability. We also agreed to support the initiation of a new Environment Group to progress this important area in relation to navigation. As an example, the Sustainable Boating Group’s current work in showing that better dredging will reduce the power consumption required by cruising boats will benefit from a consideration of the linked environmental criteria.

Ongoing Navigation Committee activities include the oversight of relevant campaigns (community moorings, freight, HS2, sustainable boating) and the review and updating of policies. Our proposed updates to the IWA Policy on the Provision of Boaters’ Facilities were approved by Trustees and the revised version may be found in the library section of the IWA website. The Vegetation Management and Residential Boating Policies are in progress. Navigation Committee confirmed its longstanding support for continuous cruising and for residential boating in general.

Navigation Committee also gave advice to the Huddersfield Canal Society (with valued input from Ray Alexander) on the subject of the designation of remainder waterways.”

Sue O’Hare, IWA Deputy Chair and Chair of Navigation Committee Ivor Caplan, Deputy Chair of Navigation Committee

IWA concern over CRT charges

CRT has announced its intention to charge for events. From 1st June it will introduce a non-refundable administration charge for third-party events, which will be paid as part of the submission process. There will be an additional charge for large-scale commercial events and promotional events.

IWA is concerned that a literal interpretation of the announcement will impact events held by IWA and by canal restoration societies and other local groups, potentially leading to their cancellation. We have made our concerns clear to CRT at both national and local levels, and received assurances that there is no intention to charge non-profit organisations. We remain concerned since CRT’s position is being communicated inconsistently around the network, and we will continue to monitor the situation and make further representations at the highest level if needed.

Volunteering at festivals

Our annual Canalway Cavalcade and Festival of Water events will be returning this year so we are on the lookout for enthusiastic volunteers to help – could you be one? No experience is necessary for many of our volunteering roles, however you will need to be over 18 to apply.

Volunteering at a festival is a fantastic opportuni to meet new people and gain experience in areas such as:

◆ Children’s activities

◆ Collecting donations

◆ Commercial

◆ Entertainments

◆ Information stands

◆ IWA marquee

◆ PA announcements

◆ Programme distribution

◆ Waterspace

Visit the links below to find out more about volunteering at one of our festivals:

Canalway Cavalcade (29th April – 1st May, 2023) waterways.org.uk/cavalcade

Festival of Water (26th – 28th August, 2023) waterways.org.uk/ festivalofwater