Lincolnshire Flotilla Sails to Westminster in Funding Uproar

In a waterborne demonstration over funding shortages, a fleet of boats has voyaged through Lincolnshire’s waterways. Roughly a dozen canal boats, cruisers, and sailing vessels embarked from Keadby on the River Trent, with several determined to reach Westminster as a sign of protest. The maritime rebellion was orchestrated by the Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW), who are fighting tooth and nail for increased government funding for our nation’s canals and rivers. FBW, representing a vast network of inland waterway users and supporters, argue that our waterways are a £2.5bn lifeline for water-based tourism and an invaluable environmental and health resource for the nation. However, the escalating costs of maintaining ageing infrastructure and battling climate change demand a surge in investment. Despite this, the government appears to be tightening the purse strings. The Canals and Rivers Trust, responsible for a whopping 2,000 miles of waterways, receives a government grant of £740m that stretches from 2012 to 2027. Emma Hardy, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) minister, has previously mentioned that from 2027, the trust will receive a 10-year grant of £401m. The Lincoln Post has reached out to Defra for a response. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.