Setting a new course

Britain's historic inland waterway network is one of the finest examples of industrial heritage in the world and deserves a long-term plan for its future. Earlier this year British Waterways, which cares for roughly a third of the surviving network, proposed setting up a 'national trust' for the waterways. The recently published report – Setting a new course: Britain's waterways in the third sector – sets out some of the opportunities such a path would offer.

By moving into the third sector British Waterways aims to increase the level of public and volunteer participation in the waterways and widen the network’s supporter base. As a third sector organisation, a wider range of community stakeholders could have a say in new governance arrangements, whilst British Waterways' directors and management could work to much longer horizons with the security of an agreed long term government funding contract. If it were a UK charity, British Waterways would be the 13th largest by income; comparable to charities such as the British Red Cross and Barnardo's.

Tony Hales, chairman, said: "I believe the third sector is the best and only feasible option to continue the renaissance of Britain's aging waterways. Moving to the third sector would secure a more socially, environmentally and economically sustainable future for this important national treasure."

The proposals have received warm support from a range of stakeholders and partners and British Waterways will put forward firm recommendations in the Spring.

Read the full report: Setting a new course: Britain's waterways in the third sector (535K PDF)