IWA

Calls grow for residential boaters to be recognised in housing and planning policy

by

Web Editor

–

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…
Continue reading »
AWARDS for those working to keep waterways alive

by

Web Editor

–

November 6, 2025

The IWA’s 66th annual general meeting at the Jubilee Conference Centre, Nottingham, welcomed more than 100 attendees in person and online – and also celebrated waterways excellence through the presentation of awards. IWA’s Amy Tillson reports… NATIONAL chair Mike Wills opened the event, followed by campaigns and public affairs director Charlie Norman outlining campaigning priorities…
Continue reading »
LOCK CLOSURE forces more lorries onto Yorkshire’s roads

by

Web Editor

–

November 4, 2025

THE Inland Waterways Association (IWA) has said the Canal & River Trust’s plan to close Sykehouse Lock, on the New Junction Canal, near Thorne, South Yorkshire, from November 3 to December 19 for bottom and top gate repairs is excessive and disregards the impact on navigation and businesses. The six-week duration of the intended closure…
Continue reading »
IWA Calls on Government to Back Green Future for Britain’s Leisure Boaters

by

Web Editor

–

September 23, 2025

The Inland Waterways Association (IWA), through its Sustainable Boating Group, has made a Submission to the Department for Transport’s (DfT’s) Call for Evidence on Decarbonising Smaller Vessels. It has looked at propulsion and the use of domestic energy on leisure boats. The Group has a clear strategy to decarbonise this sector, so a submission has…
Continue reading »
SAVING ENERGY on boat heating

by

Web Editor

–

July 15, 2025

IT IS usually said that a typical narrowboat needs about 2kW to keep it comfortable in cold weather, although more is obviously needed to heat it initially. Energy (and therefore cost) can be saved by reducing losses, utilising waste heat and/or installing a more efficient system. Malcolm Bridge, IWA Sustainable Boating Group, gives us more…
Continue reading »
WATERWAY RESTORATION conference a success

by

Web Editor

–

July 7, 2025

THE Annual Waterway Restoration Conference at the National Waterways Museum was jointly organised by IWA and Canal & River Trust. IWA’s Amy Tillson reports… A packed audience attended this event, held at the historic venue at Ellesmere Port on April 26. Special thanks go to the excellent speakers and compere who made the conference inspiring…
Continue reading »
IWA urges ‘joined-up’ thinking in water review

by

Mark Lancaster

–

June 11, 2025

THE IWA has submitted a response to the Call for Evidence issued by the Independent Water Commission. The commission was launched by the UK and Welsh Governments in October 2024 and is chaired by Sir Jon Cunliffe, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England. It is tasked with carrying out the largest review…
Continue reading »
HELP COMPILE a national picture of waterways heritage

by

Web Editor

–

April 21, 2025

IWA’s Amy Tillson reports… IWA’s Heritage Advisory Panel aims to safeguard and publicise the extraordinary national heritage asset that our waterways network represents. To aid public and governmental awareness of this, the group is compiling a ‘risk list’ of significant waterways heritage items that are endangered for whatever reason – for instance neglect, dereliction, insensitive…
Continue reading »
IWA Canalway Cavalcade 2025

by

Mark Lancaster

–

March 27, 2025

IWA Canalway Cavalcade returns to London’s Little Venice on Saturday, May 3, for the full Early May Bank Holiday weekend. Each year the best of life on the waterways in London and its community is celebrated at IWA Canalway Cavalcade. There’s something for everyone at this vibrant canal festival in the heart of London’s waterways.…
Continue reading »
CRUISE IT or lose it?

by

Web Editor

–

December 17, 2024

BOATERS are being urged to get cruising to the farthest parts of the UK waterway network as part of a challenge to keep waterways open. The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) Silver Propeller Challenge aims to get cruisers out to some of the least-visited places on the canal and river network. The IWA believes by visiting…
Continue reading »
GREY HAIR: Too much on the canal?

by

Web Editor

–

December 14, 2024

Phil Pickin poses a question that many groups associated with the waterways grapple with… what to do to overcome an ageing membership. DURING the IWA’s recent AGM in Leicester, the issue of membership came up. This was not unexpected, and the subject wasn’t discussed simply out of a desire to increase the number of IWA…
Continue reading »
LICHFIELD BRANCH: Winter vegetation management

by

Web Editor

–

December 5, 2024

Amy Tillson Reports… Recently, IWA Lichfield Branch’s intrepid team of volunteers began their seventh consecutive year of winter vegetation management. This year they have been given a variety of tasks in addition to the usual cutting back of the overgrown vegetation. Repainting bridge names and numbers, removing ivy and other such growth from bridges and…
Continue reading »
IWA: Acclaimed journalist as chairman

by

Web Editor

–

December 4, 2024

Amy Tillson reports… IWA is delighted to announce the appointment of Hugh Pearman as the new chairman of its Heritage Advisory Panel. As an experienced and celebrated journalist, editor and author, he brings a background gained in a distinguished career and a deep commitment to preserving the architectural and engineering heritage of Britain’s inland waterways.…
Continue reading »
CLOSER LINKS: IWA and LCA

by

Web Editor

–

September 23, 2024

Cicely Oliver reports… THE Lowland Canals Association (LCA) is exploring corporate Inland Waterways Association membership after a decision to form an alliance with the IWA. This will benefit the LCA by giving it access to the IWA’s experience, campaigning and commercial expertise. The LCA’s Neil Kitchener will be joining IWA’s lead in Scotland, Jonathan Mosse,…
Continue reading »