Issued on 10 May 2024 by the Royal Yachting Association
Government receives wake-up call from inland waterways campaigners
Inland waterways campaign group, Fund Britain’s Waterways, takes its message to Westminster.
It was a spectacle for both the eyes and ears on Wednesday (08 May) as the call to safeguard Britain’s inland waterways reached the Palace of Westminster.
A 20-strong flotilla delivered an unmistakable message to Government for funding to protect the future of our inland waterways.
The flotilla included a mix of commercial freight vessels, several sea kayaks and 17 privately owned narrowboats, some of which had travelled over 350 miles battling against the severe weather and failing canal infrastructure, determined to reach Westminster. United together, they sounded their horns to cheers from supporters on Westminster Bridge, capturing the attention of many MPs who had just attended Prime Minister’s questions.
The flotilla was a culmination of Fund Britain’s Waterways’ May Bank Holiday Weekend of Action, with events being held across the country to highlight the impact of insufficient funding on our rivers and canals.
Welcoming the flotilla were crowds of inland supporters and representatives from the campaign’s alliance of organisations, including Dame Sheila Hancock DBE, and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Waterways, Sir Michael Fabricant MP.
Fund Britain’s Waterways is a coalition of organisations representing hundreds of thousands of users and supporters of inland waterways campaigning to safeguard the future of Britain’s 5,000-mile network of cherished canals and rivers. The campaign calls for recognition of the importance of Britain’s inland waterways for their environmental, leisure, heritage, and commercial freight value.
Les Etheridge, Fund Britain’s Waterways Chair, said: “It has been fantastic to have boats travel from across the country to gather outside the Palace of Westminster. Supporting inland waterways is vital in continuing to enable people of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy and connect with their local stretch of water.
“Our waterways are a bustling network that links communities, provides employment and leisure opportunities, which are underpinned by the network’s unique heritage. They also play a valuable role in water and flood risk management and provide a haven for wildlife.”
Mel Hide, RYA Director of External Affairs, said: “Britain’s inland waterways play an integral role in millions of people’s leisure and well-being. Without support and funding this national asset will undoubtedly fall into decline.
“The campaign cruise at Westminster highlights the community spirit and passion waterways inspire in people of all ages and raises awareness of why safeguarding our blue spaces for future generations to enjoy is vital.”
Show your support for the Britain’s canals and rivers by signing the Fund Britain’s Waterways petition.
Download high-res photos.
Notes to the Editor
About Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW)
FBW brings together a wide range of organisations with the sole purpose of campaigning collectively for an increase in government funding of Britain’s inland waterways to avert their decline, and to promote awareness of the huge economic, environmental and social well-being value they provide. Established in June 2023, it already has more than 125 members representing hundreds of thousands of users and supporters of inland waterways and secured over 50,000 signatures to its public petition.
Founding members of the Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign include:
The Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs
British Marine
The Inland Waterways Association
The National Association of Boat Owners
The Royal Yachting Association
Contact
For further information about Fund Britain’s Waterways, email: info@fundbritainswaterways.org.uk
Fund Britain’s Waterways plan weekend of activity
Fund Britain’s Waterways, the campaign group asking for fair Government funding to support the inland waterways infrastructure, are planning a weekend of campaign activity across the May Day Bank Holiday weekend (04 - 06 May 2024).
The weekend of action will highlight the impact of insufficient funding for Britain’s 5,000 miles of inland waterways. Events will be taking place across the country on waterways managed by different inland navigation authorities. It will coincide with IWA’s annual Canalway Cavalcade at Little Venice in London, which this year will be themed on Fund Britain’s Waterways.
Boaters attending Cavalcade are invited to join a Campaign Cruise past the Houses of Parliament on 08 May, as the culmination of the weekend of action. Parliamentarians will be encouraged to view the event and express their support for the continued maintenance of the waterways to enable them to keep on delivering economic, health, environmental and well-being benefits.
Other planned events include:
03 – 04 May Ripon Motor Boat Club – Campaign Cruise to Ripon (North Yorkshire)
03 - 04 May Electrika at Brinklow Marina (Rugby)
04 May Gazebo and stall besides Johnsons Hillock locks on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, 10am - 4pm
04 May Swarkestone Boat Club Cruise (Derbyshire)
04 – 06 May IWA Canalway Cavalcade (London)
04 – 06 May Norbury Canal Festival (London)
08 May Campaign Cruise past the Palace of Westminster (London)
Host an event
Fund Britain’s Waterways are looking for more local groups to organise events during the weekend of action to spread the campaign message. Events can be as simple as a few boats gathered at a public location where flyers can be handed out and people can be encouraged to sign the petition.
If you or your organisation could organise an event over the weekend, please email Hazel Owen.
You can learn more about the Fund Britain's Waterways coalition by visiting the campaign website.
Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW) announces a May Day Bank Holiday Weekend of Action
After launching at the end of June 2023, six months later FBW has created an impressive coalition of member organisations totalling well over one hundred, representing hundreds of thousands of users and supporters of inland waterways. A public petition has attracted close to 50,000 signatures. Three well-reported Campaign Cruises in Birmingham, Gloucester and past the Palace of Westminster on the Thames have substantially raised awareness of the challenges facing our canals and rivers and the need for action.
Our plans for 2024 include an important weekend of action over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend (4 to 6 May 2024) to highlight the impact of insufficient funding for Britain’s 5,000 miles of inland waterways.
The weekend of action is planned to take place across the country on waterways managed by different inland navigation authorities. It will coincide with IWA’s annual Canalway Cavalcade at Little Venice in London, which this year will be themed on Fund Britain’s Waterways.
Boaters attending Cavalcade are invited to join a Campaign Cruise past the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday 8 May, as the culmination of the weekend of action. Parliamentarians will be encouraged to view the event and express their support for the continued maintenance of the waterways to enable them to keep on delivering economic, health, environmental and well-being benefits.
We hope that activities taking place across the country over the weekend will attract local and national media attention, building up to the Westminster Cruise on 8 May for which we will be aiming for national coverage.
We are looking for local groups to organise events during the weekend of action to spread the word that waterways need to be properly funded to stop them from falling into decline. Events can be as simple as a few boats gathered together at a “public” location where flyers can be handed out and people be encouraged to sign our petition or get more involved.
If you or your organisation could organise an event over the weekend, please contact Hazel Owen hazelowen.awcc@outlook.com and 07929 204811.
Please also contact Hazel if you can help promote the FBW cause at any events you are involved in at any time throughout the year.
About Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW): FBW brings together a wide range of organisations with the sole purpose of campaigning collectively for an increase in government funding of Britain’s inland waterways to avert their decline, and to promote awareness of the huge economic, environmental and social well-being value they provide. Established in June 2023, it already has over 100 members representing hundreds of thousands of users and supporters of inland waterways.
Contact:
For further information about Fund Britain’s Waterways contact info@fundbritainswaterways.org.uk