Waterways infrastructure is being left to rot as custodians struggle to fund repairs and maintenance, according to Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW) – as one mayor proposes a £500,000 spend to protect the River Cam. Tim Greenfield reports…
Under-funding of the inland waterways, it says, means some rivers and canals are closed to traffic, with tourism being hardest hit as boaters go elsewhere.
FBW’s 1500-strong membership has spent most of the year campaigning for more cash for the network – taking its fight right into the heart of Government in May with a flotilla of boats.
The group recently steamed up the River Cam in Cambridgeshire to highlight issues which have left the city isolated from visiting boaters. A colourful flotilla of boats travelled in convoy up the River Cam and assembled at Baits Bite Lock to meet Charlotte Cane MP and draw attention to the threats facing Britain’s canals and navigable rivers as a result of inadequate funding.
Baits Bite Lock is one of two locks on the River Cam which have had to be closed because of structural and safety issues. Additionally, an ageing and failing fleet of work vessels means that even routine operational work on maintaining the navigation, banks, and towpath is very difficult.
Following the FBW’s campaigning, the Mayor or Peterborough and Cambridgeshire, Paul Bristow, pledged to ‘Save the Cam’ – starting a proposal of £500,000 of investment from the area’s combined authority. “If approved,” he said, “this should kick-start a city-wide effort to find the rest of the cash and save Cambridge’s historic river.”
In a video posted on Facebook, the former MP for Peterborough added: “This river is part of what makes the city special, whether it’s having a picnic by the river or the punting and rowing.
“It’s a beautiful place to be, but the truth is it’s under threat. The locks are failing, and that would be catastrophic for the River Cam. We need to do something about this.
“We need the whole city to come together, and I hope this big, bold offer will be the start of an effort to save the river. We are going to do this – Cambridge is special.”
Paula Syred, British Marine Inland Committee member and director of Fox Narrowboats Ltd, said: “Vibrant rivers and canals are not just for boaters – they provide valuable wildlife habitat and are vital to prevent homes and businesses flooding.
“British Marine research shows tourist visitors on boats spend about £94.50 per person per night. Since Baits Bite Lock was closed in May 2024, our hirers from all over the UK and abroad have taken alternative routes, missing the city and spending their money elsewhere on the rivers.
“This is not just a local problem. Inland waterways around the UK have been chronically underfunded for years, leading to our navigation authorities fighting a constant battle just to keep the network open, with no spare funds to make a true improvement and leave our rivers and canals in a fit state for the next generation. This is why we at Fox
Narrowboats support the Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign.
“We now sit at a crucial junction where the Government can choose to properly fund our wonderful network and give it an ongoing future or be responsible for its further decline.”
The Conservators of the River Cam are committed to stabilisation work at Baits Bite, but there is no possibility of stabilising Jesus Green Lock without external funding or investment, and the risk of structural failure remains a threat to river users and the environment, economy, and safety of the city of Cambridge, highlighting the urgent need for meaningful investment in Britain’s waterways.
Charlotte Cane, MP for Ely and East Cambridgeshire, said: “Our waterways support wildlife, provide vital drinking and agricultural water, and offer people space to stay active and connect with nature. As I said in my maiden speech, our chalk streams and water corridors are precious – and maintaining them is essential for our health, environment, and future.
“It was a pleasure to join FBW on their campaign cruise this weekend. Being part of the flotilla offered a wonderful opportunity to take in the stunning scenery of Ely and East Cambridgeshire’s inland waterways. Now more than ever, it’s vital that we protect and preserve these important natural spaces.”
The cruise to Baits Bite Lock was organised in partnership with the Great Ouse Boating Association (GOBA) as part of FBW’s major campaign cruise for 2025. The journey began with an initial group of boats setting off from Strawberry Island Boat Club in Doncaster in March, which grew to a 26-strong flotilla delivering a clear message to Government from the Thames in London in May. Boats then took different routes north before meeting for a record-breaking mass crossing of the Wash from Boston to Wisbech in June.
Two of the original group of boats participated in the cruise to Baits Bite Lock, having now covered well over 1000 miles.
