The Canal & River Trust’s annual national boat count shows that licence compliance on its waterways remains high with 96.2% of boaters holding a valid licence (2019: 96.4%).  This is the fourth highest compliance figure in the last 10 years and is the eleventh successive year with evasion below 5%. The national boat count sees […]

Lockage Report   CRT has published the annual lockage ranking for 2019 for those locks that are fitted with telemetry. The five most-used locks were in the West Midlands and North West Regions, as was the least-used lock.   Ranking Region Canal Site No lockages 1 West Midlands North Oxford Locks 2 & 3 Hillmorton […]

A report from boaters rep, Dave Mendes de Costa. Yesterday the boater representatives on the CRT Council met with Matthew Symmonds (National Boating Manager). Many thanks to everyone who sent me their thoughts. As expected, the main area of discussion was around Covid-19. The tone was positive, there seems to be a desire to support […]

CRT have said this tonight 23 March Following the most recent announcement from the Prime Minister regarding the UK’s response to the coronavirus crisis, we are asking leisure boaters to stop all non-essential travel. As a result, and to help those who live-aboard (along with those who would need to travel to their boat in […]

CRT have just issued these very welcome FAQs on boating in these difficult times. You can read them here. There is no relief on BSS examinations as yet. We have asked for three month extension and we will continue to press for this. Whilst many will be able to get this important safety inspection completed, […]

CRT have announced the publication of the two reports on the spliway failure at Toddbrook in 2019. They have said The Canal & River Trust welcomes the Government-commissioned Independent Reservoir Review report from Professor Balmforth which examines the cause of the damage to Toddbrook Reservoir last summer and makes recommendations for the improvement of reservoir […]

Following feedback from a series of meetings held with disabled boaters over the last year, CRT will now provide ‘Trust Aware’ permits to boaters who have been given reasonable adjustments to their cruising requirements under the Equality Act 2010. On a case-by-case basis, this could involve overstays on visitor or towpath moorings or adjusting their cruising […]

CRT have said that they are starting a winter tree and hedge manangement programme. They say that the works will focus on preserving navigation and ensuring sightlines are kept clear, rather than cutting back every metre of overgrowth. We actively manages vegetation all year round, but large-scale activities are best suited to winter when the […]

The Council is responsible for the appointment of trustees, helping to shape policies and providing guidance and perspective to trustees. Election of 28 new Council members is now underway. Candidates and their manifestos were published on 25th November and licence holders will receive an email link to enable them to vote from 20th January to […]

The Canal & River Trust has announced that headline private and business boat licence fees will rise by 2.5% from 1 April 2020. As previously announced, in March 2018, following the Trust’s national boat licence consultation, a number of changes will be made to licence fees over five years. From 1 April 2020, a 2.5% […]