Setting a new course - Britain's waterways in the third sector
17 December 2009
British Waterways has today (17 December) published a report on its proposals to secure the future of the nation’s 200-year-old canals and navigable rivers by creating a ‘national trust’ for the waterways. The move to the third sector from direct state control has been met with wide-ranging support since its proposal in May. The publication of Setting a new course, Britain’s waterways in the third sector aims to advance the debate, promote discussion and further inform stakeholders’ views.
British Waterways will finalise its policy proposals regarding a ‘national trust’ for the waterways in the Spring ahead of firm recommendations being made to government. It believes the move will create closer links with waterside communities and will help towards closing the current £30 million annual gap in funding for canal maintenance and repairs whilst minimising the call on the taxpayer for funding.
The report, produced by a team of third sector experts, incorporates input from waterway stakeholders including those at British Waterways’ recent Annual Meeting. It identifies that as a charity British Waterways would sit on the boundary between the third and public sectors – other examples of organisations in this space include museums, universities and foundation hospitals. As well as being the guardian of the UK’s third largest collection of listed buildings, the report notes that, as a charity, British Waterways would be the UK’s 13th largest by income; comparable to charities such as the British Red Cross Society and Barnardo’s.
Tony Hales, British Waterways’ chairman, comments: “British Waterways is responsible for over 2,000 miles of waterway, for the third largest collection of listed structures in the country, for dozens of Sites of Special Scientific Interest and for underpinning £10 billion of regeneration, and yet we operate today within a framework designed almost half a century ago for a minor freight infrastructure operator.
“The waterways are suffering from a real term grant reduction since 2003, and have a considerable funding shortfall. Without the required spend on canal maintenance and repairs the overall physical state of Britain's waterways will once again go into decline.
“The time has come for change and, at a time when all major political parties are committed to furthering partnerships with the third sector, such a move would give British Waterways a greater chance of protecting the waterways and maximising the public benefit they could create.”
With 11 million visitors to British Waterways’ canals and rivers a year, the report identifies a large potential audience which is currently mainly untapped for financial and volunteer support. As a third sector organisation, a wider range of community stakeholders could have a say in new governance arrangements, whilst British Waterways’ directors and management could work to much longer horizons with the security of an agreed long term government funding contract.
Moving from the public sector would allow British Waterways increased borrowing capacity and greater freedom to exploit and earn more money from joint ventures. By becoming independent, the organisation could be more innovative and entrepreneurial and would also be able to work more closely with other organisations concerned with conservation, heritage, education and community issues.
Tony Hales continues: “Like all successful organisations in the third sector, a ‘national trust’ for the waterways would have a clear and simple aim which illustrates the ongoing objective to protect our canal and river environment and heritage.
“I believe the third sector is the best and only feasible option to continue the renaissance of Britain’s aging waterways, which continue to play an increasingly important role in flood alleviation, supporting jobs, waterside regeneration, biodiversity and the UK leisure and tourism industry. Moving to the third sector would secure a more socially, environmentally and economically sustainable future for this important national treasure.”
View the full report: [British Waterways has today (16 December) published a report on its proposals to secure the future of the nation’s 200-year-old canals and navigable rivers by creating a ‘national trust’ for the waterways. The move to the third sector from direct state control has been met with wide-ranging support since its proposal in May. The publication of Setting a new course, Britain’s waterways in the third sector aims to advance the debate, promote discussion and further inform stakeholders’ views.
British Waterways will finalise its policy proposals regarding a ‘national trust’ for the waterways in the Spring ahead of firm recommendations being made to government. It believes the move will create closer links with waterside communities and will help towards closing the current £30 million annual gap in funding for canal maintenance and repairs whilst minimising the call on the taxpayer for funding.
The report, produced by a team of third sector experts, incorporates input from waterway stakeholders including those at British Waterways’ recent Annual Meeting. It identifies that as a charity British Waterways would sit on the boundary between the third and public sectors – other examples of organisations in this space include museums, universities and foundation hospitals. As well as being the guardian of the UK’s third largest collection of listed buildings, the report notes that, as a charity, British Waterways would be the UK’s 13th largest by income; comparable to charities such as the British Red Cross Society and Barnardo’s.
Tony Hales, British Waterways’ chairman, comments: “British Waterways is responsible for over 2,000 miles of waterway, for the third largest collection of listed structures in the country, for dozens of Sites of Special Scientific Interest and for underpinning £10 billion of regeneration, and yet we operate today within a framework designed almost half a century ago for a minor freight infrastructure operator.
“The waterways are suffering from a real term grant reduction since 2003, and have a considerable funding shortfall. Without the required spend on canal maintenance and repairs the overall physical state of Britain's waterways will once again go into decline.
“The time has come for change and, at a time when all major political parties are committed to furthering partnerships with the third sector, such a move would give British Waterways a greater chance of protecting the waterways and maximising the public benefit they could create.”
With 11 million visitors to British Waterways’ canals and rivers a year, the report identifies a large potential audience which is currently mainly untapped for financial and volunteer support. As a third sector organisation, a wider range of community stakeholders could have a say in new governance arrangements, whilst British Waterways’ directors and management could work to much longer horizons with the security of an agreed long term government funding contract.
Moving from the public sector would allow British Waterways increased borrowing capacity and greater freedom to exploit and earn more money from joint ventures. By becoming independent, the organisation could be more innovative and entrepreneurial and would also be able to work more closely with other organisations concerned with conservation, heritage, education and community issues.
Tony Hales continues: “Like all successful organisations in the third sector, a ‘national trust’ for the waterways would have a clear and simple aim which illustrates the ongoing objective to protect our canal and river environment and heritage.
“I believe the third sector is the best and only feasible option to continue the renaissance of Britain’s aging waterways, which continue to play an increasingly important role in flood alleviation, supporting jobs, waterside regeneration, biodiversity and the UK leisure and tourism industry. Moving to the third sector would secure a more socially, environmentally and economically sustainable future for this important national treasure.”
View the full report: www.britishwaterways.co.uk/settinganewcourse
For media enquiries contact:
Jonathan Ludford 020 7985 7275 / 07747 897783
Notes to editors:
British Waterways is a not-for-dividend public corporation responsible to Defra in England & Wales and to the Scottish Government in Scotland. The organisation cares for 2,200 miles of the canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs across Britain. Rich in heritage, abundant in wildlife and teeming with activity, inland waterways are as popular today as they've ever been. Half the population lives within five miles of one of our waterways and an incredible 11 million people use them every year as part of their everyday life – as a short-cut to work, for walking the dog or simply for taking time-out and watching the boats. British Waterways' job is to ensure the waterways attract enough investment to be well maintained and remain appealing to society and the local communities through which they pass.