The trust still engages with government for more funds

IN AN ATTEMPT to secure more funds the Canal & River Trust is still engaging with the government.

And thus continuing to present its case to government to emphasise the vital role of the canal network in 'delivering key national priorities'.

Comprehensive submission

In its comprehensive submission to the government’s current Spending Review process, the trust tells it is making the case 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.

This follows the publication of the Trust’s 2024 Impact Report in December illustrating the wide range of positive outcomes the trust delivers, and the submission of the trust’s first Climate Change Adaptation report to Government last month demonstrating how the 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.

22% of its funding

At present it 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 ten years.

Richard Parry, chief executive at Canal & River Trust, explains:

“Our canals and navigable rivers are an extraordinary national asset, supporting the economy, providing water security, supporting nature, protecting against flooding, and offering green and blue 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 future-proof these vital assets and ensure they continue to support communities, the environment, and the economy long into the future.”