News

Parliamentarians briefed

The General Election in December 2019 resulted in new MPs in 25% of the constituencies containing a navigable waterway or one under restoration. As more than 400 constituencies in England, Scotland and Wales are home to a canal, river or derelict waterway, IWA published a new briefing titled The Future of the Inland Waterways to ensure our MPs are up to date on the issues facing our inland waterways network.

The document was launched at a reception in January held at the Houses of Parliament and attended by 60 people. Among the issues raised in the briefing are the ongoing need for adequate funding of the publicly owned waterways operated by Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency, research into how the waterways can be more sustainable and help contribute to the Government’s goal of the UK becoming carbon neutral by 2050, the need for affordable residential moorings, the importance of protecting our waterways heritage, and how waterways restoration can act as a catalyst for a much wider regeneration of the surrounding area.

MPs attending the event were encouraged to join the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Waterways, which was due to be reconstituted after the election (see page 10).

Above: (L-r) Paul Rodgers, Simon Baynes MP and Mike Haig at the Parliamentary reception in January.

Left: Rosie Winterton MP (r) receives her copy of The Future of the Inland Waterways with Wendy Humphries, chair of IWA Lancs & Cumbria Branch.

IWA’s Festival of Water, due to take place in Worcester over the August bank holiday weekend, has moved to 2021.

Changes to 2020 events

Our very busy programme of work parties, walks, canal camps, talks, meetings and socials has been halted in line with the Government’s guidance as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Our volunteers and staff have been keen to continue with as much of the meeting programme as possible and have embraced digital meeting software, such as Zoom. Many IWA members have been able to attend meetings they had never previously been able to get to and have found sessions relatively easy to access.

We have cancelled IWA Canalway Cavalcade (due to take place on 2nd-3rd May), and many boaters and stallholders booked in to attend the festival have deferred their bookings to 2021 to show their support for next year’s event. IWA’s Festival of Water has been rescheduled to take place in Worcester in August 2021, and the Trailboat Festival on the Wey & Arun Canal has also been postponed to 2021.

For news about our branch activities and national events, please take a look at the event calendar on our website for the most up-to-date information.

A move to skillset-based trustee selection

IWA Trustees have recently reviewed the Charity Commission guidelines which require charities to consider “the skills and experience the current trustees have, and whether there are any gaps”. The trustees concluded that a more diverse board with a wider range of identified skills, experience and perspectives is needed to ensure the most effective delivery of the charity’s objectives.

To achieve this, from this year, rather than being elected, new trustees will be selected based on the skillsets that will be needed over the next three years to complement the skills of existing trustees on the board.

Six trustee positions are available to be filled this year as two exisiting postholders, Ray Carter and Paul Strudwick, are stepping down having served the charity for a maximum term of twelve years. Four trustees, Chris Howes, Mike Palmer, Paul Rodgers and Verna Smith, have come to the end of their three-year terms. The latter four trustees are eligible to stand again for a further period.

The proposed process is that a selection panel of remaining trustees, including Ray Carter, Paul Strudwick and three non-trustee IWA members with board level business/ governance experience chaired by an IWA Deputy Chairman, will review applications and appoint up to six trustees based on the skills applicants have evidenced.

Applications will need to be returned by 5pm on Friday 12th June. The selection panel will meet in late June with applicants being notified of appointments by 3rd July. New appointees will be invited to attend the trustees’ meeting on 18th July with their formal, legal role as trustees commencing after the AGM.

Next steps: information on the application process, which will detail the skillsets needed and final details of the process to be followed, will be available online from 1st May. It can also be obtained from Tracy Higgin – email tracy.higgin@waterways.org. uk or write to Trustee Applications, Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, HP5 1WA.

We welcome applications from people from all walks of life and will be further promoting this process on our website, our Bulletin email newsletter, as well as through wider advertising.

New series of Waterways Webinars

As staying in has become the new going out and everyone has been finding ways of keeping in contact with others over the internet, IWA has launched a new series of waterway presentations that are open to all of our members.

This is a new weekly programme with speakers joining us every Tuesday lunchtime or evening to talk about a huge range of topics including our Silver Propeller Challenge, Scottish canals, new forms of boat propulsion, the Boston to Peterborough Wetland Corridor, and much more.

The presentations are given on Zoom, which is very easy to use on computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones. You can find the full programme of events and register your interest on our website at waterways. org.uk/events_festivals/online_talks.

With sadness

We are saddened to report the deaths of Dr David Hilling MBE and Roger Hasdell.

■ David was IWA Vice President and an eminent authority on many areas of transport. As an enthusiastic member of IWA's Inland Shipping Group, including being its chair for some years, he keenly promoted the benefits of transport by water wherever he went. He had a widely respected career in the academic world, and was considered a world authority on ports and inland shipping, publishing many books and papers, and was well travelled on the strength of this, including lecturing for five years at the University of Ghana. He was appointed an MBE in the 2004 New Year's honours for services to the inland waterways.

■ Roger was a journalist by career and brought all of his experience to the role of volunteer editor of Waterways magazine, which he carried out from March 1973 to December 1989. He was a prominent figure in IWA Northampton Branch for the best part of 50 years and was awarded the Cyril Styring Trophy in 1990 for his outstanding contribution in furthering the Association's campaigns.

health & safety updates for restorations

There are more than 40 active waterway restoration groups across the country, which between them are bringing over 500 miles of waterway back to life. They are supported and championed by IWA’s Restoration Hub which shares resources, materials and expert advice to prevent waterway groups using time and e ort to acquire technical information on an individual basis. Our Hub acts as a central area of guidance and advice that groups can access online or over the phone.

One of the biggest resources within the portfolio is Waterway Recovery Group’s Practical Restoration Handbook, made up of 18 sections covering restoration topics om site management to dewatering. First published more than 20 years ago, the fi rst seven sections on the theme of Health & Safe , site set up and leadership have now been fully updated the country. Authored and reissued as principally by Mikk Book One of the Bradley, IWA’s Technical new Practical Support O cer, with Restoration Handbook. Practical contributions om other professionally Containing 20 restoration skilled people across sections on Handbook the sta team and WRG topics related to Book One: commi ee, the handbook health and safe regulations, Health & Safety contains the very latest information and allows personal safe restoration groups to and insurance, site benefi t om a huge management and depth of experience. leadership skills, Book One of the environmental Practical Restoration considerations Handbook is now and waste available online and management, the two copies of the book new handbook will are being distributed be an invaluable resource for restoration to every active restoration group in volunteers and site directors across England and Wales.

Weaver boat gathering in aid of canal restoration

It’s hoped that the Waterways Restoration Showcase will take place as planned at the Anderton Boat Li on the Weaver Navigation on 22nd-23rd August.

Following the success of a similar event in Liverpool last year, IWA Chester & Merseyside branch is hosting the showcase aboard steam ship Daniel Adamson where up to 15 restoration groups and waterways societies will be displaying their projects and talking to members of the public about how they can get involved.

Jim Forkin, IWA Chester & Merseyside branch chair, thanked the Canal & River Trust and the Daniel Adamson team for their help organising the event and said: “It is important that the public can meet with these inspirational volunteers and see fi rst hand the work done by these brilliant societies to restore so many derelict waterways. The economic and social impact is enormous for the communities that they benefi t.”

Boat-owners om across the North West are invited to cruise to the Anderton Boat Li , and the showcase will be followed by a four-day cruise along the river, organised by the River Weaver Navigation Socie . To book a place on the cruise, contact RWNS at bob.osborne@hotmail. co.uk or 01606 553433.

Slimmer Waterways

You may have spo ed that your Summer issue of Waterways magazine is a bit slimmer than usual. The waterways sector, like many others, has been severely a ected by the coronavirus lockdown and one of the impacts is a reduction in advertising spend. A slimmer magazine also reduces our postage costs. We hope to return to our usual size before the end of the year but this is dependent on waterway businesses feeling able to spend on advertising. Please do support them as much as you can this summer.

AGM date confirmed

Notice is hereby given that the Association’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 26th September 2020 at 11.30am. The venue will be confi rmed in the autumn edition of Waterways magazine alongside the meeting agenda, and both will be posted on IWA’s website as soon as they are fi nalised.

New Parliamentary group chair announced

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Waterways held its inaugural meeting for the new Parliament on 25th February and appointed Michael Fabricant MP as its new chair.

Mr Fabricant is well known for his support of the waterways in his Lichfield constituency, particularly the work of the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust of which he is a patron, and is a previous recipient of our Parliamentarian of the Year Award.

At the meeting, the group also agreed key topics that would be addressed over the coming months, including the importance of protecting waterways heritage, how waterway restoration can act as a catalyst for much wider regeneration, and encouraging access to the waterways for sport and leisure use.

Red diesel budget announcement

Ahead of the Chancellor’s Spring Budget on 11th March, IWA had raised concerns with HM Treasury about a possible change concerning red diesel, which had been reported in the press. The letter welcomed Government's aim to reduce carbon emissions, but highlighted that removing all access to red diesel could achieve the opposite of its desired effect and negatively impact on the environment and the economy.

The Budget subsequently confirmed that Government will remove “the entitlement to use red diesel except for agriculture, fish farming, rail and non-commercial heating” from April 2022. IWA remains concerned that the change could result in adverse environmental and economic impacts through a loss of tourism, employment and trade, but we welcome the announcement that boaters will still be entitled to use red diesel for heating and cooking. Government has said it will explore options for how this will work for boats with only one fuel tank.

IWA will be taking up an offer from HMT, received immediately after the Budget announcement, to be part of discussions on why other sectors should still be allowed to use red diesel. We will put the case that removing the subsidy completely would have a detrimental effect on commercial craft, including the hire-boat trade and waterborne freight traffic, which represents a small but important contribution to having fewer lorries on the road.

IWA is passionate about protecting and restoring the country's 6,500 miles of canals and navigable rivers for the future, and we know that to do so, boating needs measures to ensure it is more sustainable and affordable, as well as to preserve waterways environment and heritage. We were bolstered by the news in the Budget that the Chancellor has committed to at least double the funding for the commercialisation of innovative clean energy technologies; IWA is keen to see more research taking place into alternative forms of propulsion.

Paul Rodgers, IWA National Chairman (l) shakes hands with Michael Fabricant MP and APPGW chair.

We are asking members to encourage their MPs to join the APPGW; take a look and see if your MP is involved and, if not, contact them asking them to come along to the next meeting – waterways.org.uk/news_campaigns/campaigns/all_party_ parliamentary_group_for_waterways.

IWA and Waterways World in joint industry campaign

Many waterways businesses have either closed or are operating a much-reduced service as a result of the coronavirus crisis. In response, IWA and Waterways World have launched a joint initiative to quantify the impact on the sector and to make a case to Government for support for the industry.

The first stage was to utilise WW’s extensive database to contact nearly 1,500 inland waterways businesses and ask them to complete a short but detailed survey. In a joint email from Paul Rodgers, IWA National Chairman, and Peter Johns, Publisher of Waterways World, they called for as many responses as possible to ensure that a powerful message is sent to DEFRA and the rest of Government.

Peter Johns said: “We have been delighted by the incredible response from the industry to our call. I would emphasise that this is joint initiative by WW and IWA combining our extensive knowledge and contacts within the waterways industry and IWA’s expertise in political campaigning. I have witnessed that expertise at first hand and it demonstrates that the Association is as relevant to the waterways today as it was when first formed nearly 75 years ago”.

Paul Rodgers added: “We are also working with Canal & River Trust, British Marine and the Broads Authority to see how our collective insight can be brought to bear, and as we gather more information we plan to lobby Government departments, contact all MPs with waterways in their constituencies, and launch a wider campaign to encourage waterway supporters to write to their MPs to champion the inland waterways sector.”

If there are any waterways businesses which have not received details of the survey please email admin@ wwonline.co.uk and we will ensure that your details are passed on and send you a link to the online survey.

ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE WATERWAYS

The 2020 global Covid-19 pandemic has turned normal life on its head and has decimated the operations of whole portions of the economy, communities and many charities. IWA is obviously not alone in feeling its impacts, and, at this early stage, the most severe effects are still to be felt across the UK. What is apparent, however, is that the restrictions put in place by the Government in March will be detrimental to the charity sector, with estimated losses over the subsequent three months of approximately £4.3bn.

Waterways sector impacts

■ Due to pressures on funding, maintaining the waterways is likely to become a lower priority for local authorities and statutory bodies for the coming years. Navigation authorities face considerable losses in income and may have to cut or scale back significant amounts of their maintenance activity and provision of facilities. We are particularly concerned that this may threaten future dredging activity, which in turn will increase flood risks for many communities that were already badly affected by the terrible winter of 2019/20.

■ Significant losses of income for boating companies, which threaten the livelihoods and existence of many longestablished companies that are unable to operate for the crucial spring/summer tourist season of 2020.

■ Loss of income from cancelled boat festivals. These are mainly organised by small, local groups and represent their main income source for the year.

■ Lost momentum, lost support and increasing costs for the 40-plus restoration projects taking place across the country from suspended activity, deteriorating sites, theft, vandalism and volunteers lost to ill health.

■ Increased demand and additional pressure on local facilities across many areas of the network due to larger numbers of people living or self-isolating on boats and using the towpath for daily exercise.

Impacts on IWA and our capacity

■ Loss of members and supporters over the period of the crisis and a resulting loss of income from subscriptions and donations.

■ Loss of grant funding as many activities, such as volunteer projects and Canal Camps, have been cancelled for a significant portion of the year and grants can no longer be made or claimed. Monies may also be diverted elsewhere to support people directly affected by Covid-19.

■ Loss of income from our two key income-generating events that have been cancelled or are under threat, and suspended trading activity. our Canal Camp working holidays, which attract around 400 volunteers each year and bring around £25,000 to the Association.

■ Losses of upwards of 12% expected on investment portfolio value.

■ Cancellation or postponement of volunteer-led activities, representing the loss of thousands of working hours that help maintain, improve and restore the waterways.

Our work during the crisis

We have managed to carry on the work of our staff team during the crisis, and have been answering enquiries from concerned members or people who have been finding it difficult to contact their local navigation authority. We have instigated new remote working practices and have been encouraging our volunteer-run branches to adopt technology to continue to hold branch meetings, to remain active and communicate between themselves and with head office about any issues that are arising.

Developing a response

While we have a number of concerns about the situation that this crisis has created for the UK waterways and the implications for communities up and down the country, we are working on developing an appropriately scaled response to strengthen our work, help meet the needs of boaters, local IWA branches and restoration groups, and to identify and monitor problems on the waterways as they occur.

DEFRA seeks IWA's views on the impacts

At a meeting held in March, Defra's Navigation Team was keen to hear IWA’s input on the likely impact of Covid-19 on waterways across the country.

The meeting, which had been due to take place in London but was rearranged as a video meeting, was an opportunity for IWA to raise ongoing issues, such as funding for the publicly owned waterways, the importance of navigation authorities providing sufficient basic facilities and those relating to the heritage and restoration of the waterways.

The timing of the meeting allowed IWA the opportunity to outline concerns about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the waterways; these included boaters' health and access to facilities, boat-owners struggling to afford mooring and licence fees, navigation authorities' ability to deal with emergency repairs, and the impact on many waterway businesses, including hire-boat companies through having to close down their operations. We are also concerned that it is not just the larger, publicly funded navigation authorities that will be affected, particularly as the restrictions have come on top of extensive damage in the winter storms just a few weeks earlier.

Since the meeting, IWA has provided further background information to assist Defra in identifying the wider issues. Over the coming weeks and months we will continue to do what we can to lobby Government for help for navigation authorities, waterway businesses and boaters.