You can read the customer service facility policy statement in full here.
Water points, refuse/recycling, and Elsan facilities should be provided no more than a day's cruising apart* and two days** cruising for pump out.
The essential provision includes a maximum cruising time that the Trust will aim to achieve across our waterways. There are some waterways where very high demand may require a lower maximum cruising time between facilities or additional facilities at existing locations where they are provided. However, at some locations restricting factors such as a lack of suitable sites with necessary connections to services and or access to maintain services will mean a longer maximum cruising time.
Following the adoption of our customer service facilities policy in May, we have conducted our review of facilities that fall outside of the essential facility provision of water points, refuse/recycling, Elsan, and pump-out facilities. Facilities that fall outside of the essential provision include showers, public toilets, washing machines, and tumble driers.
From 3 November 2025, all showers, public toilets, and other non-essential facilities will be closed. As part of this change, Canal & River Trust will no longer service CSF buildings that house facilities outside of the essential provision. Essential facilities within CSF buildings will remain accessible. However, we are offering boaters and user groups the opportunity to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to lease and maintain existing CSF buildings that include toilets and showers on a long-term basis.
If you would like to express an interest, please complete our EOI form.
*How long a day's cruise would take will vary depending on the speed of travel, and could be affected by weather or other factors. Rather than be specific, we're proposing that this would normally be between 5-7 hours cruising.
**Two days cruising would be between 10-14 hours cruising.