A recent protest across Lincolnshire, involving a flotilla of canal boats and cruisers, highlights growing concerns over the lack of government funding for the UK’s inland waterways, posing a potential business risk for industries reliant on them. The protest, organised by Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW), draws attention to the urgent need for increased investment in maintaining the nation’s canals and rivers, contributing significantly to the UK economy.
Waterways generate £2.5 billion annually through water-based tourism, while also offering vital social, health, and environmental benefits. However, the FBW, a coalition of groups representing hundreds of thousands of users, warns that rising maintenance costs and climate change challenges threaten to undermine the sector’s sustainability.
For businesses that depend on waterways for logistics, tourism, and recreation, the risk of reduced government funding could result in deteriorating infrastructure and diminished operational capacity. While the Canals and Rivers Trust currently receives £740 million in government grants through 2027, future funding remains uncertain, with reduced support expected beyond that period.
