Waterways

We’ve announced an increase of 4% in boat licence fees from 1 April 2025 for both private boat owners and boating businesses. The rise is based on the latest Bank of England forecasts that inflation will remain at around 2.5% through until April 2025. The charges Surcharges for boats without a home mooring and wide…

We’ve completed a six-week dredging programme on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal to improve the navigation for boaters. Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal dredging Taking place between 23 September and 5 November, the work saw in the region of 300 tons of sediment removed from four different locations along the canal. The work The dredging has…

A 200-year-old aqueduct on the Montgomery Canal has been given a new lease of life. The Grade-II Listed Aberbechan Aqueduct carries the canal over Bechan Brook, a tributary of the River Severn, and is vital for supplying water to the south of the canal from the Severn. Made up of three arches, the aqueduct features…

Volunteers working with we have given a project to restore a historic canal bridge in Braunston a head-start by helping to repair centuries-old brickwork. The works The works are part of a wider project to repair and improve Bridge 91A at the entrance to Braunston Marina, made possible thanks to a generous legacy gift from…

Work is underway on a £1.1m project to improve a four-mile stretch of towpath on the Northern Reaches of the Lancaster Canal and make it more accessible for residents and visitors. The works We have worked with the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership and Westmorland and Furness Council to secure the funding for the project, which…

We’re deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Timothy West. A star of stage and screen, he had a lifelong passion for boating and canals and shared that passion in support of our charity in parliament and at canal events and openings as well as to millions of viewers through the Great Canal Journeys…

Wildlife-rich hedgerows along our historic canals are set to be improved thanks to a partnership project between us and the Drax Foundation, the charitable entity of renewable energy company Drax Group. Volunteers receiving hedgelaying training The project The project will see our local volunteers out on the towpaths alongside specialists to breathe new life into…

At our Annual Public Meeting, we gave updates on our finances, fundraising strategy, and the positive impact our work is having on local communities. We also announced our plans to improve navigation and the service for boaters. The Annual Public Meeting Hosted online by chair, David Orr CBE, and chief executive, Richard Parry, attendees heard…

Kevin Desmond reports – Our keenness to get our polyboatglobal.com message to the maximum number of people owning, renting, selling or merely interested in electric passenger boats is bearing fruit. As already reported, this summer following a Google Boost, our server Wix had recorded over 1,100 page views of our website. With our second Boost, this autumn,…

We’ve received a grant from the Nature Networks Fund to maintain a restored stretch of the Montgomery Canal near Welshpool. The £250,000 grant will help us to protect rare plant and animal species by removing areas of silt and dense vegetation growing over the channel, improving water quality and keeping navigation clear to also benefit…