Report highlights post-lockdown boating boom

LEISURE boating enjoyed a record summer in 2021 after the canals reopened for unrestricted navigation following the first Covid-19 lockdown, according to the Canal & River Trust.

Its annual report and accounts for 2021/22, the second year to be severely affected by the coronavirus, also showed a continued rise in use of the towpath, with nearly 800 million individual visits during the year.

Accounting for variances relating to the pandemic, income for the year remained broadly stable and the trust was able to increase the amount spent on core maintenance and repair works to keep the network open, safe, and navigable.

Chief executive Richard Parry commented: “In a year severely affected by the pandemic, the trust has demonstrated its resilience to the challenges faced and continued to provide opportunities for the nine million people who have waterways on their doorstep to experience the wellbeing benefits they offer.

“With the threat of climate change, we must continue to focus funding and resources on increasing the resilience of the canal network and our core purpose of keeping the waterways safe, attractive, accessible, and available for boating and the wide range of other users.”

More than 160 large-scale works were completed during the year, including repairing masonry and brickwork, fixing leaks, updating and installing hydraulics and electrics, and fitting 132 lock gate leaves handcrafted at the trust’s specialist workshops.

However, the trust’s largest spend on infrastructure was again on its high-risk reservoirs, continuing a programme of additional works over the decade to minimise any threat to public safety and to safeguard the vital canal water supply that the reservoirs provide.

The report also looks ahead to the review of the Government grant, due to complete in 2022/23, for the period beyond 2027 when the current grant agreement comes to an end.

Richard continued: “As the cost of looking after our ageing network continues to rise, the sustainable long-term future of our waterways depends on building broad support and maintaining our partnership with Government to secure the funding that is essential to address their long-term resilience and avert their decline.

“With our grant declining significantly in real terms over the next few years, the current Government review of our future funding provides the opportunity to demonstrate the substantial benefits that waterways bring, as well as the wider public risks associated with our ageing and vulnerable network.”

To view the trust’s 2021/22 annual report and accounts, visit: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/ about-us/annual-report-and-accounts