THE Canal & River Trust is hoping to persuade the Government it has a strong case for increased funding so it can continue to maintain and enhance the canal and river networks.
The charity made its case as part of a submission to the Spending Review process, asking for “a contribution to its funding sufficient to ensure that its canals can continue to provide the significant economic, environmental, and social benefits it delivers into the future”.
At present the trust receives around 22% of its funding from government and this is set to decline to around 10% by 2035, a loss of funding of around £300m in real terms over the next 10 years.
CRT has highlighted the impact the network makes to the economy and well-being of the public, and the need for investment in its ageing infrastructure.
Richard Parry, CRT’s outgoing chief executive, said: “Our canals and navigable rivers are an extraordinary national asset, supporting the economy, providing water security, supporting nature, protecting against flooding and offering green spaces that benefit millions of people. However, the pressures on this ageing infrastructure are growing and, without adequate investment, there is a real risk to the benefits they provide.
“As a charity we must raise funds through many different routes and part of this is by engaging with the Government in a thoughtful and measured way, to show how targeted funding could help to futureproof these vital assets and ensure they continue to support communities, the environment and the economy long into the future.”
There is no indication the Government will increase the 22% funding it gives to the CRT though the charity is hoping its lobbying and the publication of the trust’s 2024 Impact Report in December illustrating the wide range of positive outcomes it delivers will sway Whitehall. In addition, the submission of the trust’s first Climate Change Adaptation report to Government last month demonstrated how the trust’s ageing infrastructure is requiring substantial future investment to keep it open and safe.
The UK’s canals and associated infrastructure – including reservoirs, docks, and embankments – offer strategic opportunities to support issues of national importance, such as water security, flood protection, climate resilience and economic growth. However, these assets face growing pressure from reduced funding, rising maintenance costs and the increasing impact of extreme weather events. The trust believes that a modest increase in government investment, to maintain its real terms funding, would unlock even greater benefits, ensuring the canal network remains resilient for generations to come.
