Our plan for better boating

Our plan will prioritise things that will improve navigation and target issues that will make the experience of boaters better. We will publish a dashboard with specific measures to monitor implementation of the plan by 31 March 2025.

Keeping canals open for boating

We will demonstrate to boaters that keeping our canals open for navigation is at the heart of what we do. This is our commitment to boaters, from the top of the Trust, that boating will be central to our long-term plan.

1. Our chair, David Orr CBE, will chair a new boating sub-committee of our board that will oversee the implementation of a better boating plan and the general boating issues. Keeping our canals open for navigation will be central to our next ten-year strategy.

Getting the basics right

Boating should feel easier for you, with our locks and swing bridges better maintained and easier to use. You should also see fewer unplanned stoppages that disrupt your cruising.

2. We’ll fix all outstanding broken paddles by spring 2026 and set a target from April 2025 to repair any paddle faults arising as soon as possible (but no longer than four weeks).*
3. We'll target more resources on planned preventative maintenance (PPM), prioritising re-greasing and clearing vegetation at locks and swing/lift bridges in the spring and early summer ahead of the busier time of the year for boating.
4. We'll spend more delivering improved grass-cutting in 2025/26. We will also review where and when we cut grass – ensuring grass is cut at locks and mooring sites and cutting more towpaths to the water's edge, making it easier for boaters.
5. We’ll update our tree management standards and programmes to increase tree surveys. This will inform more winter tree works and assign higher priority to the clearance of fallen trees blocking navigation and towpaths.

*If a paddle repair cannot be fixed as it requires a longer stoppage, these may be deferred until the next subsequent works stoppage period.

Boater facilities

We know that boater facilities are important, so when they do break, we'll work quicker to fix them. Combatting overflowing bins and fly tipping will improve your experience of using these facilities. And we know many boaters care about recycling: clearer facilities will make it easier for you to do this.

6. If our water, Elsan or pump-out boater facilities break, we'll fix them promptly.
7. We'll review refuse collections at our busiest sites to reduce overflowing bins and take measures to help tackle fly-tipping. We'll roll out segregated waste, recycling and food waste collections at our sites in England by summer 2025.

Better communication & customer service

We want to make it easier for boaters to tell us if there is a problem so we can fix it. Being able to find up-to-date information is important, so we'll improve the communication and customer service you receive and provide more opportunities to meet and talk with us.

8. We’ll develop a Boater App to make it easier for boaters to access the online services provided by us when and where they want. For example, you'll be able to report faults and find out what has been reported already.
9. We'll improve our stoppage notices system, making sure the information for boaters is clear and accurate – adding photos so that boaters can see the cause of the stoppage and what we're doing to resolve it. Our booking system for operated structures and pre-bookable moorings will be updated to make it more customer-friendly and easier for boaters to use.
10. We'll improve how we communicate with boaters. Our Boaters' Update e-bulletin will be updated, and we'll increase our social media boating activity. We’ll provide more opportunities for boaters to meet and speak with our colleagues. We'll publish a 12-month calendar of boater meeting dates.

We’re working day in and day out to care for our canals. Our better boating plan is in addition to our major winter works programme, our annual dredging works, ongoing major reservoir works and other critical assets work programme.