Canal closure warning leaves boat users fearful

Valerie Ball, 67, has lived on a canal boat at Nottingham's Castle Marina for three years

Boating enthusiasts have told of their fears following a warning some stretches of canal may have to close due to funding pressures.

The Canal and River Trust, which looks after 2,000 miles of waterways in England and Wales, said it was not getting enough funding to keep up with rising costs and its network was at risk of closures.

The government said funding had been agreed to 2027, and it had been made clear this would not be adjusted for inflation.

But those who enjoy canal life say the trust's warning has left them worried.

Valerie Ball, 67, who has lived on her canal boat at Nottingham's Castle Marina for three years, said: "I love living on the canal, and I walk along the towpath every day.

"I would be devastated if there was no funding for the canals because I would not have somewhere beautiful to walk, and I would end up homeless."

The trust has 500 active volunteers in the East Midlands who work to upkeep the canals by cutting back vegetation, mending holes in towpaths and picking up litter.

Ms Ball said: "I can see there's regular working parties that come and do lovely things, plant things, clear up people's litter, so yes it is kept up really well."

Ian Beswick started working on his canal boat - called Perthia - this summer

Ian Beswick, from Lincolnshire, spoke to the BBC while enjoying a journey along Nottingham Canal.

"The wildlife is impressive," the 70-year-old said. "Even in a city like Nottingham, I've seen two species of dragonfly.

"I come from Grantham, where there was a working canal and that has been allowed to go into disrepair until it's become an unused canal now."

Grantham Canal, which runs through Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, closed to boats in 1929.

Last year, the trust received £27,000 from the Rushcliffe Borough Council to help restore it, but Mr Beswick fears he will not see that happen in his lifetime.

"If people stop looking after the more recently-made canals, I think that's going to rob a whole generation - at least one generation - of the pleasure of doing what we do," he said.

"It is a healthy activity and you get a good night's sleep when it's peaceful in the countryside."

Grantham Canal opened in 1797 and originally transported coal and bulk materials

Mr Beswick said it would be an "absolute mistake" if canals were allowed to fall into disrepair.

"The history, the deep learning experiences, the nature, the camaraderie of other people you meet and the facilities are really fine," he said.

"When you moor up you can get fresh water, remove waste from your boat and it's all laid on. Don't let it go.

"It's part of our heritage and a very soothing and gentle place to forget your cares."

Maureen Newton said it would be a "real shame" if parts of the canal network had to close

It is not just the boat users who have voiced concerns over the future of canals.

Maureen Newton, 64, uses the towpath alongside Nottingham Canal to get to work and her husband enjoys fishing there.

"Even if he doesn't get any fish, he just likes to sit here and watch the world go by," Ms Newton added.

"It would be a real shame because it's taken a long time to get the canals to where they are now. It's good for people's mental health."

Linny Beaumont, the regional director for the trust, said "with rising costs we can do less with the money we've got", adding: "We've got this widening hole in our funding.

"Ultimately, if we don't do something different, some of our canals and rivers will be at real risk because we need that money to keep them open and safe."

The government is currently reviewing all public funding following the general election.

A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "We recognise the wide range of benefits that our inland waterways bring, and the Canal and River Trust receive an annual grant of £52.6m to support their maintenance and development."

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