Fund Britain’s Waterways has now been campaigning for three years, and Towpath Talk has taken stock of where things stand.
Three years of campaigning
Towpath Talk reports that the campaign reached its third anniversary on 27 June. In that time it has grown from an idea into a coalition with the backing of boaters, waterway users and national and local politicians. FBW chair Hazel Owen said the campaign “set sail with a big idea, a shared purpose” and that the work now is to keep protecting the waterways for future generations. The banners have been seen across the country, including on the Thames outside the Palace of Westminster, but the main aim is still to come: a full government review of waterways funding.
The campaign has kept up its presence through the summer, from festivals at Middlewich and Braunston to the North West cruise, which was rerouted via the Manchester Ship Canal after closures on the usual route.
You can read the full piece on Towpath Talk.
Why fair funding matters
Fund Britain’s Waterways is a coalition of more than 160 organisations speaking up for the hundreds of thousands of people who use and love Britain’s canals and rivers. Its central ask is a comprehensive government review of how the waterways are funded, so the network is maintained for the long term rather than left to decline. This summer’s drought closures and lock restrictions have shown what is at stake when the money falls short.
If you would like to help, sign the petition at change.org and share it using #FundBritainsWaterways. You can also read more about the campaign here.
