| Dear Member
NABO Bulletin March 2026
NABO Chair
Since the last bulletin NABO has a new Chair. CJ Green has been a liveaboard boater since 2019 and an active member of NABO Council since 2021. Although 2026 is bound to have its own challenges – hopefully no drought this year – she is excited to help represent Inland Boaters’ interests . We wish her all the best in her new role and would like to express our heartfelt thanks to our Vice Chair Andy Williams who bravely stepped into the breach during the interim period. He did a fantastic job and is pleased he can now concentrate more on going boating.
Help needed!
We’re still looking for a press officer to help us show to the world what we do. Please, if you have professional experience of working with The Press get in touch with us. We are looking for a volunteer to help us publicise what being a boater on our inland waterways really means & the issues we have. If you feel you’re the ideal candidate and can spare a few hours a month then please get in touch at feedback@nabo.org.uk with the subject “Press Officer”.
Whitchurch Breach latest
CRT have released an interim report in the last few days. Could be this, could be that. No mention of the reliable reports of bank leakage. You can see it here. Perhaps we willnever know, or maybe it’s a combination of factors. Meanwhile at the site, they’ve had to re-profile the access road providing access to the freestanding area in the main field (not the once flooded one) as it was too steep for lorries to get up when wet!
The flooded field has been almost completely drained. There were lots of fish and eels, some quite big, stranded.
The investigators have started to assess the original construction materials, which were almost certainly locally sourced fluvial glacial sand mixed with other stoney and rocky materials, perhaps it’s fragility is one reason so much got washed away.
They are in the process of removing the damaged shuttering / Armco / sheet piling. The plan to rebuilding is a reinforced soil embankment. This comprises an earth embankment reinforced with embedded geogrids. They are unlikely to use much local material, except perhaps for the non-critical facings, as it’s so weak, which implies bringing in rock and hard-core from elsewhere. They’ve had to improve access to the canal bed, and have cut down a large oak tree on the once-flooded side (where Sefton was).
They still don’t know the root cause of the breach, but it wasn’t a culvert. There are two of those. One is still operating (the one that is the EA resource) and the other (an old mill race) appears to have been blocked already. Finally, though actual restoration hasn’t yet commenced, they will be wanting to complete the work ASAP since pumping water around the breach is costly. Currently forecasting October completion.
Penkridge culvert failure
The by-wash culvert has now been prepared to receive the liner, and debris washed into the canal has been removed. Brickwork repairs are continuing. The culvert liner is being made and is planned to be installed shortly after Easter. A further update will be provided by CRT as work progresses. A May 1st reopening is still anticipated.
Fuel issues
The middle east conflict is already hitting diesel and gas prices. We also hear allegedly of marinas not selling to passing boaters so this hints of shortage in supply as well. Please keep us posted on your experience on feedback@nabo.org.uk with title Fuel supplies. Government are talking about assistance with heating oil. Remember last time the long battle to get some assistance. We have to watch this. Hopefully the situation will improve over the summer.
Bridgewater Canal Breach
Sadly not much to report, the stabilisation work is said to be complete, and it is expected that construction works will begin in summer 2026, with a completion by the end of 2026. Fingers crossed.
Benson Weir
Benson is on the non-tidal Thames and has been replaced as part of major asset refurbishment work. The footpath closed in November 2022 due to structural safety concerns. Design was completed in January 2024, construction began June 2024, and the new wider walkway (1.5m) will reopen at 9am on 1 April 2026, with added fish/eel pass and improved protection against floating debris.
Sir James Bevan
After watching the Channel 4 programme ‘Dirty Business’ NABO contacted the CRT Board of Trustees expressing our concerns with the negative publicity surrounding Sir James Bevan and how it may affect the public’s perception of the Trust.
CRT acknowledged our concerns but strongly defended Bevan’s integrity and value to the Board. They went on to explain that Trustee appointments & reappointments are decided by Council via a formal Appointments Committee process that includes reputational considerations.
Smoke Zone Birmingham
Following the BBC story about how boaters will be affected by Birmingham Council’s Smoke Control Order NABO contacted the council directly and asked for clarification. I’m pleased to inform everyone that the Council are developing a scheme to assist eligible boaters (boaters with a home mooring inside Birmingham) to upgrade their existing stoves. NABO have advised the Council’s Environmental Protection Officer that even when using smokeless fuels there can be some emissions upon initial lighting or if stoking the fire & the Council are taking this into consideration. We will be monitoring the situation and keep boaters updated of any developments.
Smoke Alarms on Board
Amazingly these aren’t already a BSS requirement, however a public consultation is underway on introducing a Boat Safety Scheme requirement for smoke alarms on boats with overnight accommodation (CO alarms have been mandatory since 2019). It proposes at least one BS EN 14604:2005-compliant smoke alarm, correctly located (generally within 10m of sleeping/accommodation spaces and ceiling/wall mounted). The consultation closes 30 April 2026 (17:00) and non-compliance may affect BSS certification. The consultation can be accessed here.
Pontcysyllte Safety Report
The CRT have accepted NABO’s report on safety concerns surrounding boat/canoe/pedestrian interactions at the Aqueduct. As a first step they are intending to install some CCTV, and require visible identification of all craft operated by third party ‘experience’ operators but have not as yet published a plan going forward.
NABO Meetings With CRT
NABO regularly meets with Canal River Trust’s Head of Boating & Customer Service Matthew Symonds & his management team to discuss any issues affecting boaters and 2026 is no exception. We have already met in February with further meetings scheduled for May, September & November. If you have any issues you’d like raised please get in touch.
In March we attended a National Boating Organisation Meeting at St Pancras Cruising Club along with several other Boating Organisations. CRT’s senior Boating Team were also present as was Campbell Robb and David Orr.
We have also been invited to attend a Waterways All-Party Parliamentary Group chaired by Bill Esterson MP. The discussion will focus on Residential Boating, exploring issues affecting residential boating and mooring provisions.
If you would like to read more about these meetings you will have to wait for the next edition of NABO News, due out in June.
CRT Grand Canal Raffle
The Trust are holding a spring raffle, with a top prize of £5000, entries close on 7th April, with the draw taking place on the 14th April. If you care to have a flutter, you can enter it here.
FBW & BCNS Icicle Cruise
25 boats took part in the joint BCNS FBW Icicle Cruise to the Walsall Town Arm the weekend of the 20th and 21st March 2026. You can read about it here.
Keadby Lock
Currently Keadby Lock can only be operated close to high water due to a problem with water bypassing the upper lock gate. NABO have made some enquiries re the status of repairs.
CRT’s Yorkshire and North East Manager Sean McGinley has said “We are planning to start the repair by May (hopefully sooner).” Though the team have to finish ongoing winter work and it depends on economic resources, but he says he fully understands the need for it to be repaired soon.
Meanwhile restrictions remain in place due to safety issues. How this will affect the FBW campaign cruise is not yet certain, but lower powered boats heading upstream will struggle against the flow of the outgoing tide.
CRT apply for water abstraction licence
The Canal & River Trust has applied to the Environment Agency for a licence to abstract water from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The water will be used for space heating and cooling and will then be discharged back into the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. More details here.
Marina closure
Narrowboat charter company Sherborne Wharf Ltd, operating boat trips, party hire and long-term moorings in Birmingham, has failed and gone out of business. The family run company blames a surprise rent demand from the Canal and River Trust. The CRT say the rent due is completely in line with the terms of the lease and company turnover and have tried to engage with the business to no avail.
Scottish Canals
The Forth & Clyde Canal is set to re-open in august 2026 – An update on canal engineering works and many other features can be found here.
Sewage Spill
The Stourbridge Canal from was closed from Stourton Top Lock to Wordsley Junction earlier this month due to sewage contamination in the water. The sewage was from a ruptured Severn Trent foul water pipe. Thankfully the cleanup operation only lasted a week and the canal has reopened.
Reservoir conditions
Most reservoirs are now approaching capacity. The Huddersfield Narrow Canal reserves are still low, with Slaithwaite undergoing some maintenance. As a reported last month Toddbrooke Reservoir is starting to be refilled after extensive repairs, although visual inspection of the site suggests there is a lot more work to do.”
The CRT’s monthly status report can be viewed here.
The All Party Parliamentary Waterways Group
APPWG have invited NABO to send a representative to their meeting in Westminster on 14th April. The subject is “Residential Boating: Exploring issues affecting residential boating and moorings provision”. We’ll report back in our next edition as to what went on. If annoying has any comments to make they can contact us via feedback@nabo.org.ukwith the title ‘APPGW Question’.
Upcoming meetings with CRT
West Midlands Customer Forum online meeting April 8th, 7-8:30pm. Book your place here.
Wales & South West Customer Forum: Kennet & Avon Canal online meeting, April 21st, details yet to be published, but when available, they will be found here.
Wales & South West Customer Forum: Bridgwater & Taunton Canal online meeting, April 28th, 3-4:30pm book your place here.
North West Customer Forum 29th April, details yet to be published, but when available they will be found here.
Next NABO Council Meeting
The next NABO council meeting is on Saturday May 16th and will take place as an online meeting.
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