Britain’s canals and rivers face lack of funds amid climate pressures, campaigners warn | Rivers

Campaigners warn that Britain’s network of canals and rivers is under pressure due to funding shortages and increasing climate pressures.

Three-quarters of the nation’s waterways are in financial peril as the country braces for heavier rainfall in winter and intensified droughts in summer, according to the Inland Waterways Association (IWA), an independent charity that advocates for Britain’s canals and rivers.

IWA has published a first-of-its-kind climate risk map showing that under a projected 2-degree global warming scenario, 99 percent of navigable waterways would face high risk.

Areas of concern include the Pennines and Midlands, where high-altitude reservoirs feed many canal systems and drought is expected to worsen. Parts of the Leeds and Liverpool canal were closed from May to September due to low water levels.

According to the Canal & River Trust (CRT), waterways provide free public access to nature for more than 10 million people, save the NHS an estimated £1.5 billion annually, support more than 80,000 jobs and act as green corridors for wildlife.

The Trust manages nearly 2,000 miles of waterways, including around 80% of Britain’s navigable canals. Approximately 80% of local governments have a navigable waterway in their area.

The collapse of the Bridgewater canal embankment at Dunham Massey on New Year’s Eve this year exposed the fragility of the network. Although well-maintained, much of it collapsed due to heavy rains, flooding of neighboring fields and nearby sewage works.

Around 1,000 people were evacuated from their homes and stabilization cost around £400,000; Full permanent repair costs are unclear. Charlie Norman, the IWA’s campaign director, described it as a warning. “Infrastructure can be catastrophic even when well maintained. Climate pressures alone are enough to cause serious damage.”

Norman said inadequate funding was exacerbating the impact of increasing climate pressures. “Decades of unstable government support and more frequent extreme weather events have left many waterways vulnerable to breaches, closures and rising maintenance costs,” he said. “This year’s drought has led to the closure of dozens of canals across the country, impacting wildlife, tourism, businesses and people living along the canals.”

A Defra spokesman said: “Our canals and rivers provide a wide range of benefits, including connecting people to nature. That’s why we’re investing more than £480 million of grant funding into CRT to support essential infrastructure maintenance of our precious waterways.”

The spokesman said navigation authorities had independent responsibility for maintaining canal networks, safety and resilience to climate change.

CRT receives the largest share of government funding for waterways, but increasing climate-related demands mean government support is insufficient to maintain its network.

CRT chief executive Campbell Robb said: “Last winter, emergency repairs following eight named storms cost our charity £10 million. We need the public’s support in this relentless task to maintain the canals and keep them open and thriving, including more people volunteering and donating money. The Government also recognizes the role our charity must continue to play in helping keep the network open and safe.”

After the CRT, the remaining 20% ​​of the canal network and around 3,000 miles of navigable waterways are overseen by authorities including the Environment Agency, Scottish Canals, the Broads Authority and smaller independent bodies.

For its risk map, IWA rated navigation authorities from severely deficit (red) to fiscally stable (green). Around 75% fell into red or yellow categories, including the Environment Agency and the Glass Conservancy, which admitted it could not meet all its commitments.

Stopovers such as Jesus Green and Baits Bite Lock on the River Cam show how network isolation is damaging local businesses and navigation. David Goode, president of the Glass Conservancy, said: “Even in a good year our fees barely cover operating costs.” He described the local mayor’s £500,000 contribution towards the £1.6m Baits Bite Lock stabilization as “life-saving” but added: “One-off grants do not solve long-term problems.” Jesus Green Lock remains closed indefinitely.

In addition to closures and climate damage, increased garbage is also a daily problem. Elena Horcajo is spending two hours every morning collecting waste along the Regent’s canal after CRT removed the towpath bins, citing untenable maintenance costs. The trust now relies on reactive clearing of litter through staff and volunteers, but Horcajo says CRT-led volunteer clean-ups have failed to manage the problem.

IWA is calling for a government review to define sustainable, long-term financing. Norman said: “Millions now will save billions in the future.”

He said increased government investment would enable authorities to strengthen infrastructure, reduce flood risk and support water transfer plans to alleviate drought and protect navigation, heritage, economic activity and environmental benefits.

“Without intervention, this vital, historic network will face irreversible decline by 2050,” Norman said.