Waterways-supporting politicians have added their weight to the campaign for future public funding of the Canal & River Trust's waterways, with a parliamentary group meeting and, as we went to press, an MPs' debate in Westminster Hall. But as yet, the lack of even a confirmed date for the delayed decision is continuing to give rise to worries for the future. When British Waterways (BW) was transformed into the CRT charity in 2012 it was given a 15-year public funding contract of around ￡50m per year, tailing off in real terms as it lost its inflation-proofing in the latter years. However there was no guarantee of any support after 2027, although there would be a review of need for such support five years before that date. The review has taken place, but the decision (due in July 2022) has been delayed until 'autumn'. In the meantime CRT's Chief Executive Richard Parry and others have expressed concerns that without some such funding the waterways could fall into a vicious circle - especially given high inflation reducing current income in real terms. At the All Party Parliamentary Group for Waterways (APPGW), Mr Parry produced figures indicating that ending Government support would make it "not possible to sustain the waterways"; a spiral of increasing debt could rise to half a billion over the following decade, ending in waterway closures, increased risks and loss of public benefit.
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