Transfer of Environment Agency Navigations

IWA is campaigning for the Environment Agency’s 650 or so miles of inland navigations to be managed by Canal & River Trust, with an appropriate funding package.

Background
Along with its many environmental responsibilities, the Environment Agency manages the navigation of 650 miles of waterways such as the River Thames and the River Medway in the south east, many waterways in the Anglian Region (River Ancholme, Black Sluice Navigation, River Great Ouse, River Nene, River Stour, River Welland and the River Glen), as well as Lydney Harbour and Rye Harbour, its two remaining ports.

Whilst funding for Canal & River Trust was guaranteed for 15 years from 2012, budget for the navigation function of the Environment Agency (which was originally proposed to be part of the new waterway charity when Canal & River Trust was being set up), is still subject to cuts to
Defra grant-in-aid.

The transfer of the Environment Agency waterways to Canal & River Trust would provide a more sustainable, innovative and efficient inland waterway system for more than half of the inland waterways of mainland UK. The larger organisation would have more clarity of purpose and ability to partner with others with overlapping objectives in public leisure and awareness of the resource inland waterways represent. The transfer will potentially also reduce pressure on the public purse, as the combined organisation is freed from the constraints of government controls and able to better focus on customer requirements and effective asset management.

Benefits would include:
Secure funding (subject to an appropriate funding package from Goverment)
Improved maintenance through long term asset management plans
Third party funding opportunities
Economies of scale to be gained from being part of a larger navigation authority

Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency have formed a joint working group, which will explore different options for the running of river navigations currently managed by the Environment Agency.

Alongside this, IWA has been encouraging MPs of all parties to support the transfer through a letter writing campaign so that it remains Government policy.

Find out More
Find out more about the campaign in our briefing note.

You can also take a look at campaign updates and some answers to frequently asked questions about the campaign.