Canal & River Trust is inviting boaters to help shape the future of boating on the waterways ahead of a major public consultation in December.
The consultation, which will be co-created with boaters over the coming months, forms part of the Trust’s response to the independent Commission on Boat Licensing, which reported at the end of 2025 and highlighted that the existing licensing system doesn’t work well for boaters or the Trust. It also raised concerns about communication and relations between the Trust and boaters.
The consultation will consider a wide range of topics, including boat safety, support for boaters, greater certainty around navigation requirements, fair sharing of the space, and managing the canal network responsibly.
Ahead of the 14-week formal consultation, the Trust will work with boaters to ensure that the consultation properly reflects the real experiences, priorities and challenges faced by those on the water.
Campbell Robb, chief executive at Canal & River Trust, said: “Boaters are integral to our waterways. We want to see canals thriving with boats for generations to come, and that can only happen if we work alongside those on the water about what comes next.