Fund Britain’s Waterways plan weekend of activity

Fund Britain’s Waterways, the campaign group asking for fair Government funding to support the inland waterways infrastructure, are planning a weekend of campaign activity across the May Day Bank Holiday weekend (04 - 06 May 2024).

The weekend of action will highlight the impact of insufficient funding for Britain’s 5,000 miles of inland waterways. Events will be taking place across the country on waterways managed by different inland navigation authorities. It will coincide with IWA’s annual Canalway Cavalcade at Little Venice in London, which this year will be themed on Fund Britain’s Waterways.

Boaters attending Cavalcade are invited to join a Campaign Cruise past the Houses of Parliament on 08 May, as the culmination of the weekend of action. Parliamentarians will be encouraged to view the event and express their support for the continued maintenance of the waterways to enable them to keep on delivering economic, health, environmental and well-being benefits.

Other planned events include:

03 – 04 May Ripon Motor Boat Club – Campaign Cruise to Ripon (North Yorkshire)

03 - 04 May Electrika at Brinklow Marina (Rugby)

04 May Gazebo and stall besides Johnsons Hillock locks on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, 10am - 4pm

04 May Swarkestone Boat Club Cruise (Derbyshire)

04 – 06 May IWA Canalway Cavalcade (London)

04 – 06 May Norbury Canal Festival (London)

08 May Campaign Cruise past the Palace of Westminster (London)

Host an event

Fund Britain’s Waterways are looking for more local groups to organise events during the weekend of action to spread the campaign message. Events can be as simple as a few boats gathered at a public location where flyers can be handed out and people can be encouraged to sign the petition.

If you or your organisation could organise an event over the weekend, please email Hazel Owen.

You can learn more about the Fund Britain's Waterways coalition by visiting the campaign website.