Britain's canal and river network is under strain from a lack of funding and rising climate pressures, campaigners warn.
Three quarters of the country's waterways are under financial threat as the country braces for heavy winter rain and worsening summer droughts, according to the Inland Waterways Association (IWA), an independent charity that campaigns for Britain's canals and rivers.
IWA has published a first-of-its-kind climate risk map showing that 99% of navigable waterways will face increased risk under a projected 2C global warming scenario.
Areas of concern include the Pennines and Midlands, where higher-lying reservoirs feed several canal systems and where droughts are expected to worsen. Sections 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 a year, support more than 80,000 jobs and act as green corridors for wildlife.
The Trust manages around 2,000 miles of waterways, including approximately 80% of the UK's shipping canals. Almost 80% of local authorities have a navigable waterway in their area.
The collapse of the Bridgewater Canal embankment in Dunham Massey on New Year's Day this year highlighted the vulnerability of the network. Although well maintained, much of the site collapsed after heavy rains, flooding neighboring fields and nearby sewerage works.
Around 1,000 people were evacuated from their homes and stabilization cost around £400,000, with the full cost of permanent repairs unclear. Charlie Norman, IWA's director of campaigns, called it a warning. “Infrastructure can fail catastrophically, even if maintained in good condition. Climate pressure alone is enough to cause serious damage.”
Norman said insufficient funding was exacerbating the effects of rising climate pressures. “Decades of patchy government support along with increasing frequency of extreme weather events have left many waterways vulnerable to disruptions, closures and rising maintenance costs,” he said. “This year’s drought has led to the closure of dozens of canals across the country, harming wildlife, tourism, businesses and the people who live along the canals.”
A Defra spokesman said: “Our canals and rivers provide a wide range of benefits, such as connecting people to nature. That's why we are investing more than £480 million in grants into the CRT to support the maintenance of the critical infrastructure of our much-valued waterways.”
The spokesman said shipping authorities have independent responsibility for maintaining the canal network, safety and resilience to climate change.
The CRT receives the largest share of government waterway funding, but growing climate-related demands mean government support remains insufficient to maintain its network.
Campbell Robb, chief executive of CRT, said: “Last winter, after eight named storms, emergency repair work alone cost our charity £10 million. We need the public's support in the ongoing task of looking after the canals and keeping them open and thriving, including more people volunteering and donating money. The Government recognizes the role it also needs to continue to play to help our charity keep the network open and safe.”
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After the CRT, the remaining 20% of the canal network and around 3,000 miles of navigable waterways are under the control of authorities including the Environment Agency, Scottish Canals, the Broads Authority and smaller independent bodies.
In its risk map, the IWA classified navigation authorities from severely in deficit (red) to financially stable (green). About 75% fell into the red or yellow categories, including the Environmental Protection Agency and Cam Conservancy, which acknowledged they could not meet all of their obligations.
Stops such as Jesus Green and Baits Bite Lock on the River Cam show how online isolation is crippling local businesses and navigation. David Goode, chairman of the Cam Conservancy, said: “Even in a good year, our fees barely cover running costs.” He called the local mayor's £500,000 contribution towards stabilizing the £1.6 million Baits Bite Lock system a “life saver” but added: “One-off grants will not solve long-term problems.” Jesus Green Castle remains closed indefinitely.
IWA is calling on the government to undertake a review to identify sustainable, long-term funding. Norman said, “Millions now will save billions in the future.”
He said increased public investment would enable authorities to strengthen infrastructure, reduce flood risk and support water transfer schemes to mitigate the effects of drought, protect shipping, heritage, economic activity and environmental benefits.
“Without intervention, this vital, historic network will face irreversible decline by 2050,” Norman said.
