Our Heritage at Risk - Assets becoming Liabilities Photos of BW Assets
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The Save Our Waterways campaign is currently dormant.
The website is not being significantly updated, but is being left in place as a source of information and a record of the campaign's activities.
We thank all those who, by contributing time and money (through subscriptions and donations), helped the campaign's influence to be felt nationally.
This is not a time to be campaigning against cuts in waterways funding, when deep cuts are being made to services which some would regard as more essential.
BW's waterways are being moved to a new Trust organisation, with EA waterways to follow. Supporters of the waterways need to help ensure that these transitions are effective and that our waterways have the best funding arrangements acheivable at this time.
We hope that we can call upon your support in the future, should it be deemed necesary re-activate the Save Our Waterways campaign.
Minister Gives Assurance on BW
New Minister Announces, er... Nothing
Budget Statement Confirms "Mutual" Intention For British Waterways
Community Support for Waterways - A Way Forward? [Download discussion paper here]
The Future of the Waterways - Communities Working together Read more on our blog.
Who Pays for Waterways? Read more on our blog.
Where have all the protests gone? Find out on our blog.
The Save Our Waterways campaign embraces all waterways users (boaters, towpath walkers, cyclists, anglers, nature-lovers, historians) and those who live or work beside the waterways.
Have you thought how much enjoyment you get from our canals and rivers?
Until Government began a process of cutting grant-in-aid in 2006, there had been a steady improvement in the state of the canals over a period of 10 years.
This noted improvement was possible because Government invested heavily in making our 200 year old waterways safer and better places to visit.
Those who have lived near a canal for some time may recall the time when the canal was not the sort of place to take the family for a pleasant walk.
However, since Government cuts began in 2006, the funding has steady reduced to the point where there is an annual deficit of as much as 30 million that has meant it has been impossible to maintain the waterways in proper condition.
All supporters of the waterways - a majority of MPs included - are concerned that the current trend can only lead to a reversal of the state of the canals back to how they were 20 years or more ago.
The waterways belong to all of us! Navigation authorities like British Waterways, the Broads Authority and the Environment Agency have been appointed by Government to care for them on our behalf.
Safe, vibrant waterways are a good investment both for our own recreational use as well as our local economy. Save Our Waterways believes that local communities should have more say in how they are run and funded.
Over 300 MPs have supported our campaign. Why not join us and help them ensure that our waterways are properly funded now and in the future?
You can join online here. This website also gives you more information about the campaign and suggests other ways you can help even if you decide not to become a member.
...our waterways could return to the way they were just a few years ago. Join our campaign and help make a fuss. Show Government they won't get away with running down our national heritage!
Read about our Campaign Issues.
Find out more about the problem and how bad it could become. Find out how you can help.
Find out how you can join Save Our Waterways.
Have your say on the Save Our Waterways Blog.
Save Our Waterways Strategy Meeting, October 2008 [Minutes here]
Budget Bonus for BW. But is there a sting in the tail? See comment on blog.
New Minister Announced. See comment on blog.
Ministers Moved in Reshuffle. See comment on blog.
EFRA report on BW and canal restoration. Read about the report on our Blog and make a comment.
Our Constitution (pdf)