Britain’s inland waterways are under threat with more investment needed for failing infrastructure and to safeguard the future of the 5,000-mile network.

That’s why campaigners from Fund Britain’s Waterways took a 26-strong flotilla – some travelling 275 miles – across the country to Westminster to deliver a clear, visible message to MPS and the government that more needs to be done to protect our 5,000-mile network of waterways.

More than 160 organisations and hundreds of thousands of supporters are backing Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW) to protect the environmental, leisure, heritage and freight value of our rivers and canals.

The journey began with the initial group of boats setting off from Strawberry Island Boat Club in Doncaster on March 29th at the start of the major campaign cruise to and beyond the heart of government, raising awareness and being joined by other boats along the way.

By the time they stopped outside Parliament on May 7th, the group had operated 172 locks to London. The flotilla included a pair of working fuel boats, a historic narrowboat, a Dutch barge and privately owned narrowboats from across the country, some of which had to battle failing canal infrastructure and a pollution incident in their determination to reach Westminster.

United, they sounded their horns to cheers from supporters on Westminster Bridge, drawing the attention of MPs gathered on the Palace of Westminster’s Terrace ahead of Prime Minister’s questions.

Welcoming the flotilla were crowds of inland waterway supporters on the bridge and representatives from the campaign’s alliance of organisations joining Parliamentarians on the Terrace.

Hazel Owen, chair of the Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs and a member of the FBW steering group, said: “Not even broken locks or pollution from a fire closing the Maida Hill Tunnel stood in the way of the 26 boats representing thousands of FBW members getting our message across to the Government that adequate funding is required to save our canals for future generations.

“A big thank you to the staff and volunteers of the Canal & River Trust for the special efforts they made to facilitate the campaign cruise. Thanks to them as well as the hard work of the boaters we were able to reach the Palace of Westminster as planned. We were delighted to be welcomed by Parliamentarians and FBW representatives on the terrace and supporters on Westminster Bridge as we sounded our horns and made quite a noise.”

From Westminster, the FBW flotilla continued its journey north and will cross the Wash to the Anglian waterways, continuing to sound its horns and the alarm across the country to the need for investment and support for Britain’s inland waterways. The initial group of boats is scheduled to return to Doncaster in August, 20 weeks after leaving.

You can find out more about FBW HERE