CRT

Volunteers sought to keep locks moving

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September 21, 2026

With more people choosing to explore the UK’s waterways, extra support is being sought to help ensure the smooth operation and a welcoming experience for visitors and boaters. LOCK keeping has been central to Britain’s waterways for centuries, and today, volunteers with the Canal & River Trust play a vital role. They assist boaters through…
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Deep-dive rescue reopens historic Bevere Lock

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September 5, 2026

BOATERS can once again navigate the River Severn between Stourport and Gloucester after vital repairs reopened Bevere Lock, near Worcester. An inspection discovered a faulty paddle on the 183-year-old lock that was preventing it from filling properly, impacting boaters travelling between Stourport and Gloucester. The fault, located below the waterline, required the assistance of specialist…
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Drought forces canal network into emergency mode

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August 27, 2026

AS large swathes of England and all of Wales were declared in drought following weeks of exceptionally dry weather, the Canal & River Trust activated its highest level of operational response to keep boaters moving as much as possible. THE combination of very low rainfall and higher temperatures has seen reservoir levels, river levels and…
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Grounding advice from RCR

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August 22, 2026

As numerous canals continue to suffer low water levels, breakdown and assistance firm, River Canal Rescue, is receiving daily calls from boaters with fouled props and damage to rudders and skegs, plus associated damage to drive systems, impacting engine mounts with ‘legs’ failures, and gearbox coupling/drive plates. RCR managing director, Stephanie Horton says many calls…
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Bumper August work party drives Shropshire Union Canal restoration forward

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August 20, 2026

A five-day run of preparation work added to the Shropshire Union Canal Society’s regular three-day August work party, with volunteers tackling vegetation clearance, Schoolhouse Bridge wash wall footings and the removal of around 200 stumps at Waen Wen. Recently, there have been one or two ‘preparation’ days in addition to the regular three-day work party.…
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Marking three years – join the call for fair funding

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August 5, 2026

The Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign celebrated its third anniversary on June 27. LOOKING back, it’s encouraging to see how the campaign has grown in size and scope, and we have gained the support of national and local politicians as well as boaters and other waterway users. Our banners have been seen all over the country,…
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Tree strike at Wolseley Bridge

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July 4, 2026

On Saturday 27 June, River Canal Rescue engineer, Jake Mullen, was called to bridge 70 (Wolseley Bridge, near Rugeley, Stafford) on the Trent & Mersey Canal, after an oak tree crashed onto nb Marcellus. The tree had fallen from the opposite side of the towpath, landing on the boat, causing major damage and blocking the…
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From revival to ruin? IWA presses CRT over delays on Wendover Arm

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June 18, 2026

The Inland Waterways Association is actively campaigning to resolve the ongoing issues affecting the Wendover Arm, following significant delays and restrictions imposed on its restoration. For many years, the Wendover Canal Trust has led extensive work to restore the previously dry section of the Wendover Arm between Little Tring and Drayton Beauchamp. This has included…
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Shropshire Union Canal Society – June 2026 work party report

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June 11, 2026

A very busy work party. 5 days, record volunteer numbers (again), multiple different activities. Apologies if this report is a little longer than normal. “June was the second successive work party with two days of preparation before the main work party started on Friday. And once again, two full days of profiling the channel was…
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Calls grow for residential boaters to be recognised in housing and planning policy

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June 3, 2026

Thousands of people make their homes on Britain’s canals and rivers, but many residential boaters say they face mounting barriers to healthcare, basic services and legal security, with campaigners warning that unclear rights and patchy recognition are leaving a significant community exposed. PRESSURE is growing on ministers to confront what campaigners describe as a blind…
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BREACH at Whitchurch on the Llangollen Canal: what we know so far

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December 23, 2025

A major embankment failure on the Llangollen Canal at Whitchurch has led to the closure of a key section of the waterway while emergency services and engineers assess the damage and plan repairs. The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday 22 December 2025, close to New Mills Lift Bridge, and resulted in a…
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COMMISSION REVIEWING BOAT LICENSING FRAMEWORK DELIVERS REPORT

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November 20, 2025

The Report from the independent Commission set up to review the legal framework around boat licensing and whether it is appropriate for the canal network’s future has been published (19 November). Over the past ten months the Commission, chaired by Andrew Cowan, a former senior partner at law firm Devonshires, has undertaken an extensive review, engaging…
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DAM OVERFLOW spillway due to be finished by Christmas

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October 2, 2025

A THREE-YEAR construction project to create a new overflow spillway structure at Toddbrook Reservoir, Whaley Bridge, is expected to be finished by Christmas. Construction of the new dam spillway is key to bringing the reservoir back into use after the former auxiliary spillway on the dam wall was damaged in the summer of 2019 following…
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RESTORATION: Grade II-listed pumphouse

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September 24, 2025

The historically important pumphouse at the National Waterways Museum, in Ellesmere Port, is to be repaired and restored thanks to a grant from Historic England. The £252,282 award will enable the Canal & River Trust to renovate and conserve the structure and access bridge so they can be reopened to the public and enjoyed for…
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