Skip to main content

The charity making life better by water

Progress on the better boating plan: 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.

We'll fix all outstanding paddles

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).

Interact with our dashboard below. Select your region to find our how many paddles have been repaired near you.

This dashboard will be updated every month. Please note, the backlog figure is still being reviewed and will be updated by April 30. We are developing the dates for clearance of the backlog plan – as we firm these up they will be reflected in the detailed list of notifications. If you spot an omission, please let us know.

We'll target more planned preventative maintenance

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.

Our targetOur progress
95% of planned preventative maintenance (PPM) visits completed for locks and moving bridges. Spring window (March-April) visits include checks for usability, safety, tightening bolts, oiling and greasing. Early summer (April-June) visits include similar checks and some repair/installation works, such as mooring bollards, removing vegetation from gates and painting cill markers.We've reviewed our standard operating procedure for PPM. We're 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.

This dashboard will be updated every month.

A view of planned preventative maintenance work, showing 40.46% of locks and bridges complete, 28 in progress, 85 planned, and 964 left to do.

We'll improve grass cutting

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.

This dashboard will be updated every month.

Our targetOur progress
90% completed to programme.Our contractors are starting the first cuts of six towpath cuts and nine locks, landings and mooring sites annually. We're still reviewing which areas of our network we will cut to the water's edge to improve boating and which areas we can leave for nature.

We'll update our tree management standards

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.

Our targetOur progress
90% completed to programme.We're currently developing a new tree survey proposal to improve the existing programme. This will reflect the new data based around previous tree works, storm damage data and 'hot spot' areas so that the new zones relate to areas where the most work is predicted in the coming years.
95% of fallen trees cleared within 48 hours.We'll clear the number of trees blocking navigation or towpath within 48 hours from report date.

Last Edited: 02 April 2025

photo of a location on the canals
newsletter logo

Stay connected

Sign up to our monthly newsletter and be the first to hear about campaigns, upcoming events and fundraising inspiration